What comes before eating disorders: Frequency of risk-taking behavior and covariation with personality characteristics of female high school students

Risk-taking behavior indicating eating disorders and its problematic development, though wide-spread, are often even in schools-not recognized or perceived as problematic. The present study analyzes the data of 352 female high school students aged 14-17 years from a questionnaire comprising four facets of risk-taking behavior leading to eating disorders and six personality traits that are assumed to correspond with risk-taking behavior. The results of the cluster analysis based on risk-taking behavior reveal three groups with low, medium, and high risk for developing eating disorders, which were validated by discriminant function analyses. Further findings suggest that students with higher risk-taking behavior compared to those with low and medium risk indicate lower self estimation, less satisfaction with their body, and a reduced health concept. They also show a higher motivation to improve their body through physical activity as well as a higher degree of self attention. Suggestions for defining the concept "risk factor" and possibilities for minimizing risk-taking behavior are made.