Date of Graduation
1997
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The clinical conceptualization of body-image distortion among persons with eating disorders typically emphasizes sensory disturbances and de-emphasizes nonsensory, environmental variables. The present study examined body-size misperceptions using a signal detection paradigm in 20 women with bulimia and 20 women without present symptomology or history of an eating disorder. First, subjects estimated their body sizes using a video distortion camera. Second, each subject judged how similar or dissimilar each of 192 distorted and undistorted images was to her actual body size using a 5-point rating scale. The second phase of the study was repeated with one-half of the subjects given instructions intended to increase bias and one-half given instructions intended to decrease bias. Bulimics overestimated their bodies significantly more than controls. In all three instructional conditions, bulimics had lower sensitivity parameters than controls. Bulimics and controls did not differ in response bias in any of the three conditions and the instructions intended to manipulate bias were ineffective. Some of the hypothesized sensory factors include the effects of compensatory behaviors, anxiety, and depression. The limitations of signal detection theory also are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Szymanski, Lynda Anne, "A signal detection analysis of body image distortion among women with bulimia nervosa." (1997). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10141.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10141