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The aim of this study was to describe the variation of perceived expectations in daily life of adolescent girls suffering from eating disorders. Eighteen interviews with girls between the age of 15 and 19 years were analyzed according to the phenomenographic approach. The results could be summarized into three categories: expectations from others, self-imposed expectations, and conflicting expectations. Each of these could be further subdivided into two conceptions. Conflicting and unattainable expectations were severe stressors in the participants' lives. Many participants had problems identifying expectations that were not explicit. The participants internalized these expectations and interpreted them to be self-imposed. Clinical implications are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine personal standards, self-evaluation and perceived benefits of thinness in Swedish females 14–21 years with disturbed eating (DE) and to compare these to a group with other psychosocial problems and to a symptom free group. Seventy subjects with DE-group, 65 subjects with psychosocial problems and 70 symptom free subjects were compared regarding items selected from four questionnaires. High personal standards expressed in a competitive way were specific for the DE-group. In comparison with the other groups the DE-group also reported significantly more perceived benefits of thinness and they more frequently believed that thinness would make them more popular. The DE-group also reported a more negative self-evaluation, although this was a trait shared with the subjects with other psychosocial problems and consequently not specific for the DE-group. Identifying specific factors that perpetuate DE habits is important in order to improve our understanding and enhance the treatment of eating disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the Swedish version of the Eating Disorder Inventory for Children (EDI-C) from a gender and developmental perspective and to provide normative data. Methods Data were collected within seven cross-sectional projects. Completed questionnaires, from 2070 boys and 2655 girls in grades 4–12, were included. Results The psychometric properties of EDI-C in non-clinical groups of girls and adolescent boys resemble those found for adolescent girls with an eating disorder. Significant differences were found between genders, grades and pre-adolescent and adolescent groups. An increase in drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and problems with interoceptive awareness and impulse regulation characterized the adolescent girls. Maturity fears, interpersonal distrust and social insecurity decreased during adolescence for both genders. Conclusions The results indicate that the EDI-C could well be used for both boys and girls, although separate norms are recommended for pre-adolescents and adolescents as well as for boys and girls. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]