The prevalence and adverse associations of stigmatization in people with eating disorders

ObjectiveTo date, studies of stigma relating to eating disorders have been largely confined to surveys of the public. We sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of stigma as reported by individuals with eating disorders. MethodAn online survey designed to assess frequency of exposure to potentially stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs as well as the perceived impact of this on health and well-being was completed by a cross-national sample of 317 individuals with anorexia nervosa (n=165), bulimia nervosa (n=66), or Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS; n=86). ResultsParticipants rated two beliefs as both particularly common and particularly damaging, namely I should be able to just pull myself together and I am personally responsible for my condition. Participants with bulimia nervosa more commonly experienced the belief that they had no self-control and male participants more commonly experienced the belief that they were less of a man. More frequent stigmatization was associated with higher levels of eating disorder psychopathology, a longer duration of disorder, lower self-esteem, and more self-stigma of seeking psychological help. DiscussionStigma towards individuals with eating disorders, as experienced by sufferers, is common and associated with numerous adverse outcomes. The perceptions that eating disorders are trivial and self-inflicted should be a focus of destigmatization interventions. Efforts to reduce stigma towards individuals with bulimia nervosa may need to focus on perceptions of self-control, whereas efforts to reduce stigma towards males with eating disorders may need to focus on perceptions of masculinity/manhood. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:767-774)