The Associations Between the Maladaptive Personality Dimensions of Neediness and Self-Criticism, Defense Styles, Selfobject Needs, and Attachment Styles in an Iranian Sample

The present study extends previous findings by examining whether defense styles, selfobject needs, attachment styles relate to Neediness and Self-Criticism, as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition in an Iranian sample. Three hundred and fifty two participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire as well as the Persian forms of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, Experience of Close Relationships-Revised, Defense Style Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory–II and Selfobject Needs Inventory. Two Multiple Linear Regression Analyses, entering Self-criticism and Neediness as criterion variables, were computed. According to the results high Attachment anxiety, high Immature defenses, high depressive symptoms, and high need for idealization were related to self-criticism, and explained 47% of its variance. In addition, high attachment anxiety, low mature defenses, high neurotic defenses, high avoidance of mirroring, and low avoidance of idealization/twinship were related to neediness, and explained 40% of its variance. A Principal Component Analysis was performed, entering all the studied variables. Three factors emerged; one describing a maladaptive form of psychological functioning and two describing more mature modes of psychological functioning. The results are discussed in their implications for the understanding of neediness and self-criticism as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition.

Imagem do corpo, perturbações alimentares e traços de personalidade

Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar a relação entre a imagem do corpo, perturbações alimentares e traços de personalidade. 254 estudantes do ensino superior, 191 raparigas (Idade média = 21,53) e 63 rapazes (Idade média = 22,87) responderam a: Questionário sobre a Imagem do Corpo (Bruchon-Schweitzer, 1992), Eating Disorder lnventory (Garner, Olmstead & Polivy, 1983) e o NEO-FFI-20 (Bertoquini & Ribeiro, 2006). Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma correlação positiva entre a imagem corporal e o comportamento alimentar. As dimensões de personalidade Extroversão e Conscienciosidade estão correlacionadas positivamente com a imagem corporal, enquanto que a dimensão Abertura à Experiência correlaciona-se de modo negativo com a imagem corporal e com o comportamento alimentar. /ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the relationship between body image, eating disorders and personality traits. 254 higher education students, 191 girls (mean age = 21.53) and 63 boys (mean age = 22.87) answered: Questionnaire on Body lmage (Bruchon-Schweitzer, 1992), Eating Disorder lnventory (Garner, Olmstead & Polivy, 1983) and the NEO-FFI-20 (Bertoquini & Ribeiro, 2006). The results revealed a positive correlation between body image and eating behaviors. The personality dimensions Extraversion and Conscientiousness was positively correlated with body image, while the dimension Openness to Experience correlated negatively with body image and eating behavior.