Components of Shame and Eating Disturbance Among Clinical and Non-clinical Populations

Objective To examine the association between components of shame (characterological, behavioural and bodily) and eating disturbance. Method This was a cross sectional study of 859 female and 256 male participants from the general population [non-clinical (NCP)] and 167 female participants from an eating disordered population [clinical (CP)] completing the Experience of Shame Scale. The NCP samples also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and the CP samples completed the Eating Disorder Risk Composite of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3. Participants were recruited via schools/colleges, eating disorder charities and the Internet. Results Bodily and characterological shame were independently predictive of eating disturbance in female NCP samples (both, p