Investigation of Loneliness and Social Support in Patients with Eating Disorders: A Case-Control Study

Loneliness and, to a lesser degree, social support are considered under-researched topics in the literature on eating disorders (ED). This study attempted expand relevant body of research by examining loneliness combination with ED patients and healthy controls (HC). Binge-eating problems, emotional eating, resilience, anxiety, depression symptoms were also assessed. Thirty-two twenty-nine HC completed following measures: UCLA Scale, Social Support Questionnaire—Short Form, Binge Eating Emotional Connor–Davidson Resilience Hospital Anxiety Depression Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Eating-disorder showed higher levels lower support—both terms perceived availability satisfaction—than HC. Anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED) subgroups did not differ significantly either these variables. In patients, was only correlated Satisfaction (negatively) depressive symptomatology (positively). Patients appear be lonelier less satisfied their compared We found similar between AN, BN, BED sufferers. Decreased satisfaction elevated could account for patients’ high loneliness.