Factors associated with eating disorders in Colombian gym-going women: A risk model for exercise dependence

Factores asociados a los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en mujeres colombianas que van al gimnasio: Un modelo de riesgo para la dependencia del ejercicio físico

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine a risk model for eating disorders and exercise dependence in women who regularly attend the gym. This study explored the impact of early maladaptive schemas, parental styles, coping mechanisms, sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, and anxious-depressive symptomatology. A total of 338 women (age range 18-40 years) participated in the study. The results suggest that early maladaptive schemas of imperfection/shame and inflexible standards, generated by parental styles characterized by less affective availability and focused on devaluative criticism, overexertion and internalization of guilt when stipulated standards are not met, lead to increased anxiety for social approval. Being approved becomes the only resource of self-validation found by the individual. Specifically, the results show that women who scored at risk for eating disorders and exercise dependence had higher levels of anxiety and depression. In turn, they more frequently used desiderative thinking and escape as coping mechanisms.