My body and me: self-injurious behaviors and body modifications in eating disorders--preliminary results

Eat Disord. 2013;21(2):130-9. doi: 10.1080/10640266.2013.761087.

Abstract

We investigated self-injurious behaviors and body modification practices in eating disorder patients, considering different ED diagnoses and illness severities. Of the total sample, 50.9% showed at least one form of self-injury and 50.9% reported at least one tattoo, piercing, or both. Patients reporting only body modifications showed more positive feelings toward their bodies, higher levels of self-esteem, less impulsivity, depression, and anxiety, and lower levels of social dysfunction than those reporting only self-injury or both self-injury and body modifications. Self-injury was influenced by both diagnosis and severity of disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Image*
  • Body Modification, Non-Therapeutic / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Concept*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires