Cutting into the mirror: association of body image concerns with non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents and young adults with eating disorders

• Francesco Maria Piarulli ^[1] ; Anna Margari ^[1] ; Francesco Margari ^[1] ; Emilia Matera ^[1] ; Giuseppina Viola ^[1] ; Claudia Maiorano ; Gabriele De Agazio ^[1] ; Fabio Tarantino ^[1] ; Valeria Carruolo ^[1] ; Maria Giuseppina Petruzzelli ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Bari “Aldo Moro”
• Localización: EJIHPE: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, ISSN 2174-8144, ISSN-e 2254-9625, Vol. 15, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 23-23
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe15020023
• Enlaces
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• Resumen

  • Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a transdiagnostic behavior often found in patients with eating disorders (EDs). Both conditions plateau in adolescence and share psychopathological traits. Our study focuses on body image concerns, a complex psychopathological construct associated with both NSSI and ED, as a shared risk factor between the two. This study included 73 participants aged 14–24 recruited from the Eating Disorders Day Hospital, University Hospital of Bari, Italy, divided into two groups: those with an ED and NSSI (ED + NSSI) and those with an ED without NSSI (ED-only). Using standardized assessments such as clinical and demographical data, the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT-a), and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), this study found that the ED + NSSI group exhibited significantly higher body image concerns in all main scales and subscales of BUT-a and EDI-2. Moreover, the ED + NSSI group presented higher scores on psychopathological traits associated with a more severe ED, namely Ineffectiveness, Social Insecurity, and Asceticism. Finally, patients in the ED + NSSI group were diagnosed with a higher degree of depressive disorders. These findings highlight significant associations between body image concerns and NSSI in patients with an ED, also showing a higher risk of psychiatric comorbidities and a more severe ED profile in these patients.

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