The Influence of Basic Positions in Interpersonal Relationship on Eating Disorders and Body-Image Disturbance

Abstract

A common feature of eating disorders is the tendency to overestimate body size, i.e., body-image disturbance. This research, based on the theory of Transactional Analysis, was conducted to determine how basic positions, that is positive and negative attitudes regarding self and others, are related to eating disorders and body-image disturbances. Study 1, investigated the relationship between basic positions and eating disorders, TAOK which measures basic positions, and the Revised Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were administercd to 361 college students. The results indicated that subjects with low scores on basic positions regarding self, had higher EAT-26 scores. In study 2, the body images of 80 female college students were assessed to determine the relationship between body-image and basic positions regarding self and others. The results indicated that subjects with low scores on basic positions regarding self, overestimated their body-image. These results suggest that attention to basic positions should be an important aspect of interventions with people suffering from eating disorders.