Eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury: Structural equation modelling of a conceptual model

• Published in: European eating disorders review Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 431 - 437
• Main Authors: Vieira, Ana Isabel, Machado, Bárbara César, Moreira, Célia S., Machado, Paulo P. P., Brandão, Isabel, Roma-Torres, António, Gonçalves, Sónia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley 01-09-2018; John Wiley and Sons, Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aetiology; Child; Ciências Sociais; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eating disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Female; Humans; Latent Class Analysis; Male; nonsuicidal self‐injury; Physical Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Psicologia; Risk Factors; Self destructive behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Social Sciences; Structural equation modeling; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Suicides & suicide attempts; aetiology; nonsuicidal self-injury; risk factors; eating disorders
• ISSN: 1072-4133; 1099-0968
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.2611

Evidence suggests several risk factors for both eating disorders (ED) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), but the relationships between these factors are not well understood. Considering our previous work and a conceptual model, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationships among distal and proximal factors for the presence of NSSI in ED. We assessed 245 ED patients with the Oxford Risk Factor Interview for ED. Structural equation modelling revealed that both distal and proximal factors were related to the presence of NSSI in ED, disclosing a mediating role of the proximal factors. Stressful life events mediated the relationship between childhood sexual abuse, peer aggression, and both ED and NSSI. Childhood physical abuse was related to ED and NSSI via substance use, negative self-evaluation, and suicide attempts. Findings provided support for the conceptual model and highlight the possible mechanisms by which psychosocial factors may lead to ED and NSSI.
Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: SFRH/BD/116974/2016