Eating disorders and eating problems among adolescents with type 1 diabetes: exploring relationships with temperament and character.

OBJECTIVE To determine temperament and character among adolescents with type 1 diabetes with and without disordered eating. METHOD A clinical sample of 199 adolescents from multiple centers with a mean age of 14.1 (SD, 2.5) years were screened and diagnosed for eating disorders. Assessed were temperament and character as conceptualized by Cloninger, glycemic control, and depression. RESULTS Adolescent patients with clinical eating disorders or subthreshold eating problems had significantly higher mean scores in harm avoidance and lower mean scores in self-directedness. Harm avoidance remained significant even after controlling for depressive pathology. DISCUSSION This study is the first to show evidence that among youths (in particular, girls) with type 1 diabetes, there is an association between low self-directedness, high harm avoidance, and the presence of eating, weight, and shape pathology. For these particular youths, important implications for clinical practice are outlined.