The Role of Personality and Pubertal Development in Eating Disorders: a European Discordant Sister-pair Study.

Abstract

BackgroundPuberty has been found to be a major risk period for the onset of eating disorders (EDs). The experience of puberty can, however, be very different depending on the adolescent’s personality. It is currently unknown how the interplay between personality and experiences of pubertal development are related to subsequent EDs.ObjectiveTo investigate the timing of puberty and attitudes towards puberty in ED patients when compared to their healthy sisters, and to assess the relationship between pubertal risk factors, ED symptoms and personality.MethodThe sample consisted of 354 discordant sister-pairs. Pubertal risk factors were assessed through the Oxford Risk Factor Interview (ORFI) and..