Lawson, R., Waller, G., Sines, J. et al. (1 more author) (2007) Emotional awareness among eating-disordered patients: The role of narcissistic traits. European Eating Disorders Review, 16 (1). 44 - 48. ISSN 1072-4133
Abstract
The narcissistic defences and a lack of emotional awareness (alexithymia) are both salient features of eating disorder pathology, as well as being linked to each other. As each of these characteristics impacts independently on treatment, it is important to understand how they interact within an eating-disordered population. The present study assessed the associations between the three core elements of alexithymia and the core and defensive elements of narcissism in this clinical group. Seventy eating-disordered patients completed standardised measures of alexithymia and narcissism, and multiple regression analyses were conducted in order to examine the relationship between these variables. Core narcissism (e.g. grandiosity, entitlement) was associated with difficulties in describing feelings to others, whereas the narcissistic defences were associated with difficulties in identifying feelings and distinguishing them from somatic experiences. These patterns of association suggest that different aspects of alexithymia are associated with different aspects of narcissism. Clinical suggestions are made for how these characteristics might require modifications of standard treatment approaches for the eating disorders.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: 'Alexithymia among eating-disordered patients: The role of narcissistic traits', which has been published in final form at 10.1002/erv.838. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. |
Keywords: | eating disorders; narcissism; alexithymia; emotion |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 Nov 2015 14:31 |
Last Modified: | 21 Mar 2018 05:00 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/erv.838 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/erv.838 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:89330 |