Perceptions of family functioning and self-concept in adolescent anorexia nervosa

![CDATA[Authors have highlighted the importance of the family for the development of positive self-concept and identity, not only in mental health research but also in various developmental and social psychology fields. Family characteristics, environment and functioning are often cited as one of factors involved in the onset, development and maintenance of eating disorders during childhood and adolescence. With the increase in the incidence and prevalence of eating disorders in Australia and around the world, some researchers have attempted to understand how aspects of family functioning affect the onset and maintenance of the chronic illness, particularly for younger patients who are still undergoing drastic psychological changes and development. This study attempted to bridge gaps in the literature examining functioning and dyadic relations in families affected by eating disorders. More specifically, this study compared the perceptions of mothers, fathers and daughters about general family functioning and dyadic relations to determine whether any discrepancies between the perceptions of different family members and how these affect self-concept in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Results revealed an interesting pattern of results, which suggested that there are few discrepancies between the perceptions of family functioning and that each of the family members’ perceptions had differential effects on various domains of the self-concept.]]