Structural Relationships Between Sensitivity to Reinforcement, Metacognitive Beliefs, and Stress Among Girl Students with Anorexia Nervosa Mediated by Self-Concept

Several factors have been identified as exerting role in the onset of anorexia nervosa (AN). Sensitivity to reinforcement, metacognitive beliefs, tension, and body self-concept (BSC) have been studied as potent elements in the genesis and development of this condition. The goal of the present research was to determine of body self-concept had a role in regulating the structural relationships between sensitivity to reinforcement (SR), metacognitive beliefs (MCB), and stress with AN.

 This research is a correlational descriptive study of the type of modeling research; The statistical population of the present study includes the students of Tehran. The research sample was based on a multi-stage cluster sampling method in Tehran city. The participants included 215 female students who were asked to complete online form of Questionnaires about Anorexia Nevrosa (Stice et al., 2004), Body Self-Image Questionnaire (Rowe et al., 1999), Sensitivity to Reinforcement Questionnaire (Jackson, 2009), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) and Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire (Cartwright-Hatton et al., 2004). The partial least squares method was used in SPSS26 and Smart-PLS3 software environment for data analysis.

 The results indicate that the modified model of the structural relationship of SR, MCB, and stress with AN with the mediation of physical fitness self-concept has the necessary validity.

It can be concluded that BSC plays a mediating role in the relationship between SR, MCB, and stress, with AN. In fact, individuals' perception and understanding of their bodies, as well as their emotional experiences related to body perception, constitute two dimensions that form the body image. If this BSC is characterized by a negative body image, it leads to body dissatisfaction.