A psychological diagnosis of the structure of the body self in a group of selected young Polish females without eating or the mental disorders

Abstract

Aim. The main aim of this research was to describe psychological characteristics contributing to a variety of ways of experiencing and perceiving one’s own body in a group of selected young Polish females revealing no eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia nervosa, psychogenic binge eating, obesity or overweight) or other mental disturbances. Method. The Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) devised by Garner, Thompson’s Body Dissatisfaction Inventory, and projective techniques - Thompson’s Silhouette Test and a thematic drawing: “body image”. 100 females aged 20–26 participated in the research. Results. Statistical analysis of the data obtained as a result of this research allowed to distinguish three significantly different clusters (types) in the group of 100 examined females and to make a psychological diagnosis of the body self characteristics in a population of selected females. Three types of psychological profile were distinguished among the examined subjects demonstrating significantly different strength levels of the body self components. Conclusions. A psychological diagnosis of the types of body perception and body-related experiences can support prophylactic activities aimed at preventing eating disorders, and facilitate the process of detecting