Core beliefs and eating disorder recovery

Objective The study aimed to investigate cognitive factors in eating disorder recovery by examining the content and intensity of negative core beliefs in women who were currently suffering from an eating disorder and women who had recovered. Method Sixty-six women with a current eating disorder, 29 women who reported that they had recovered from an eating disorder and fifty female undergraduate students completed self-report questionnaires on core beliefs and eating psychopathology. Results Currently eating-disordered women had significantly higher levels of intensely held negative core beliefs than recovered or control women. In women with a current eating disorder, abandonment and vulnerability to harm beliefs differentiated between women who reported bulimic and restrictive attitudes and behaviours. Discussion The findings provide preliminary evidence that core beliefs are important factors in eating disorder recovery. Implications for future research are discussed.