Objective: Our goal was to examine potential predictors of a comprehensive operationalization of eating disorder recovery, characterized by physical, behavioral, and cognitive recovery, focusing on constructs related to self-concept, personality, and negative affect.
Method: Participants were women with a history of an eating disorder who provided data via survey and interview at two time points separated by about 7-8 years and who met criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis at baseline (N = 36).
Results: Logistic regression models revealed that self-esteem was a significant predictor of recovery status (OR = 1.12, p = .039) such that individuals with higher self-esteem at baseline demonstrated significantly greater odds of being in full recovery at follow-up. However, when self-esteem was considered in a set along with baseline imposter phenomenon and anxiety, no single construct emerged as a significant unique predictor of recovery in logistic regression analyses.
Discussion: These results highlight the potential importance of self-esteem in relation to recovery, with clinical implications related to bolstering self-esteem as part of eating disorder treatment. Future research should continue to explore predictors using a comprehensive operationalization of eating disorder recovery in larger, more diverse samples to optimally identify factors associated with achieving recovery.
Keywords: anxiety; depression; eating disorders; negative urgency; perfectionism; predictors; recovery; self-concept; self-esteem.
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