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The association between generalized anxiety disorder and disordered eating symptoms among Lebanese adults with the moderating effect of self-esteem
Using a sample of Lebanese individuals, this study by Abdullah et al. (2025) assessed the impact of self-esteem on the association between disordered eating practices and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A total of 629 participants were surveyed in May 2023. In addition to collecting demographic data, the questionnaire included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-7), the Single Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-5). Findings revealed that higher anxiety levels were significantly linked to more severe disordered eating symptoms. Importantly, self-esteem moderated this link: individuals with low or moderate self-esteem showed a strong positive relationship between anxiety and disordered eating, while those with high self-esteem did not show a significant association. This implies that a strong sense of self-worth might operate as a protective factor against the detrimental effects of worry on eating habits. Further investigation is required to elucidate the intricate, possibly causal connections among these factors. While prior research has noted a connection between anxiety and disordered eating, this study adds value by highlighting self-esteem as a moderating factor. The findings support incorporating self-esteem-enhancing strategies into treatments for disordered eating among those with anxiety. [NPID: Generalized anxiety disorder, disordered eating, self-esteem, Lebanon]
Year: 2025
