Mutuality, self-silencing, and eating patterns in college women

Relational-cultural theory (RCT) has emphasized how relational mutuality in the form of interpersonal connection and growth-enhancing relationships leads to healthy psychological functioning, and conversely how the lack of mutuality can play a significant role in the formation of psychological symptoms and disorders (Jordan & Hartling, 2002; Jordan, 1997; Jordan, 1991; Miller & Stiver, 1997). Jack (1991) investigated the use of relationship-preserving strategies, known as "silencing the self," in which self-expression deemed to be unacceptable to one's partner is withheld. Low mutuality and high self-silencing have been linked with depression among female cancer survivors (Kayser, Sormant, & Strainchamps, 1999), and high self-silencing has been linked with emotional eating, restrained eating, and binge eating (Smolak & Munstertieger, 2002). To date, mutuality and self-silencing have not been investigated together in relation to disordered eating. The present study sought to examine associations and patterns among mutuality, self-silencing, and disordered eating in a sample of college women. One hundred forty-nine participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire (MPDQ; Genero, Miller, Surrey, & Baldwin, 1992), the Silencing the Self Scale (STSS; Jack, 1991), and the Eating Disorder Inventory - Second Edition (EDI-2; Garner, 1991). Findings generally supported predictions based on RCT. First, partner mutuality and total self-silencing were negatively associated with each other and each was significantly correlated with the EDI-2 scales Interpersonal Distrust and Interoceptive Awareness. Among the STSS subscales, Externalized Self-Perception was negatively associated with age and positively associated with Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, Body Dissatisfaction, and Interoceptive Awareness. Silencing the Self was negatively linked with Bulimia and Interoceptive Awareness and positively linked with Interpersonal Distrust. Divided Self was positively associated with interpersonal Distrust and Interoceptive Awareness. Care as Self-Sacrifice was negatively related to Drive for Thinness and positively associated with Interoceptive Awareness. African American ethnicity was negatively correlated with Drive for Thinness, while Caucasian ethnicity was positively correlated with Body Dissatisfaction. In the canonical correlation analyses, patterns of low mutuality (partner and friend) combined with high self-silencing were correlated with high scores on a number of the EDI-2 scales. Perfectionism and Asceticism were the only two disordered eating scales not associated with patterns of mutuality and self-silencing. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.