Shame, Guilt, and Pride Moderate the Relationship between Social Appearance Anxiety and Eating Disorder Symptoms.

Eating disorders (EDs) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) are highly comorbid. Research to date suggests that social appearance anxiety (SAA), or fear of negative evaluation based on appearance is a type of social anxiety most related to EDs. Additionally, shame, guilt, and pride have each been shown to play a role in both EDs and SAD; however, they are yet to be explored as potential moderators of the relationship between SAA and ED symptoms. The current study tests if shame, guilt, and pride moderate the relationship between SAA and ED symptoms. Using an aggregate dataset of clinical and non-clinical samples (N = 1911), linear regressions were used to examine shame, guilt, and pride as moderators of the relationship between SAA and ED symptoms. We found that the relationship between SAA and ED symptoms was moderated by shame, guilt, and pride, such that at high levels of shame or guilt and low levels of pride, SAA was associated with increased ED symptoms. These findings suggest that shame and guilt may amplify, and pride may minimize, the relationship between SAA and ED symptoms. This research highlights the importance of assessing for high levels of SAA, shame, and guilt, and low levels of pride, independently, and in combination, to identify individuals at highest risk for developing ED symptoms. Future research should explore whether interventions targeting those with most at risk combinations helps to reduce ED symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]