Self-Discrepancies and Eating Disorder Symptoms

Self-discrepancies refer to perceived gaps between one’s actual self (characteristics one believes they currently possess), ideal self (attributes one aspires to have), and ought self (attributes one feels obligated to possess). Large actual-ideal and actual-ought self-discrepancies have been consistently associated with increased eating pathology. However, the potential role of the feared self—representing undesired personal characteristics — and the link between actual-feared self-discrepancies and eating pathology remains underexplored. Further, recent evidence suggests that approach and avoidance motivational orientations (e.g., reflecting sensitivity to reward and punishment) independently contribute to eating disorder (ED) symptoms and, importantly, may also interact with self-discrepancies to exacerbate ED symptom severity. As such, the present study examined the relationship between actual-ideal and actual-feared self-discrepancies and ED symptoms while also investigating approach and avoidance temperaments as potential moderators. Undergraduate participants (N = 89) completed an online questionnaire battery assessing these constructs. As hypothesized, actual-feared self-discrepancy was significantly associated with both avoidance temperament and ED symptoms. In contrast to previous research, neither actual-ideal self-discrepancy nor approach temperament was significantly associated with ED symptoms. Moderation analyses were non-significant. Taken together, preliminary findings suggest that actual-feared self-discrepancies may be relevant to eating pathology, warranting further investigation into causal pathways and intervention strategies.