Abstract:
The present study aims to investigate the personality traits of adolescent girls with diverse eating behaviors, using a comparative approach. A total of 250 participants, aged between 14 and 19 years, were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), which evaluates three types of eating behavior: restrictive, emotional, and external. Personality traits were measured with the Five-Factor Personality Questionnaire, which includes the dimensions of social desirability, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, emotional stability, and autonomy. The results indicate distinct personality profiles for each type of eating behavior. Adolescents with restrictive eating behavior scored higher on conscientiousness, autonomy, and social desirability, suggesting a tendency toward self-control and social conformity. Those with emotional eating behavior showed lower scores in emotional stability and extraversion, indicating vulnerability in emotion regulation and social withdrawal. Adolescents with external eating behavior were characterized by lower scores in emotional stability and self-regulation, and higher reactivity to environmental stimuli. These findings support the importance of personality traits as predisposing factors for disordered eating and highlight the need for differentiated psychological interventions. Preventive and therapeutic strategies should consider individual personality profiles, promoting adaptive emotion regulation, self-awareness, and a healthy relationship with food.
