Beyond symptom reduction: The longitudinal relationship between eating disorder symptoms and mental wellbeing in young women

Summary

Eating disorder (ED) symptoms and mental wellbeing are related but distinct dimensions of mental health, and little was known about their longitudinal relationship. Young women (n = 552) completed measures of ED symptoms and mental wellbeing at three timepoints over 12 months. Latent growth curve and cross-lagged panel models showed ED symptoms and wellbeing were moderately correlated at baseline (16% shared variance), with most change trajectories operating independently. Cross-lagged analyses revealed an asymmetric, bidirectional relationship over time: ED symptoms predicted later reductions in wellbeing, which in turn predicted later symptom worsening, with psychological wellbeing showing the clearest bidirectional links. The findings suggest mental wellbeing, and psychological wellbeing in particular, may warrant consideration alongside symptom reduction in eating disorder research and treatment.