What Personality Traits are Most Commonly Associated with Eating Disorders? Personality Traits and Their Impact on Eating Disorder Patterns

When I started treatment for my eating disorder, I didn’t immediately make the connection between its development and my obsessive compulsive disorder diagnosis. I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder when I was 11 or 12. The tendencies and traits I had that contributed to this diagnosis didn’t manifest into an eating disorder until later. Still, the link between the two became more and more clear as I unpacked my eating disorder experience. 

There are many potential contributing factors to the development of an eating disorder. These vary by individual and by type of eating disorder. While there is no clear-cut list of biological, psychological, and social risk factors that can guarantee someone will or will not develop an eating disorder, there are factors that make someone more vulnerable or likely to develop an eating disorder. Studies show, for instance, that certain personality traits are more commonly associated with certain eating disorders and that may contribute to their development.

Personality Traits vs. Personality Type and Eating Disorders

You may have seen articles or heard discussions that explore the “most common personality type” or personality *disorders* of people who develop eating disorders, but this is going to focus more on personality traits that may be factors in eating disorder development to give a more nuanced perspective on the role personality could have in eating disorder development. Of course, these traits are situated within a personality type and some of these traits could be present within a personality disorder, but let’s consider the personality traits themselves. 

Personality Traits Linked to Eating Disorders

Research suggests that certain personality traits are frequently associated with eating disorders. This does not, however, mean that certain personality traits cause eating disorders or that having a certain set of personality traits guarantees the development of an eating disorder. Rather, these characteristics interact with various other factors, contributing to the complexity of eating disorder development and recovery. On a personal level, this exploration has helped me to understand myself and my eating disorder more deeply, which has allowed me the opportunity to have a more nuanced, compassionate understanding of my journey.

4 Personality Traits Linked to Eating Disorders

1. Perfectionism

Perfectionism is Characterized by a relentless pursuit of high standards and the need for flawless performance in all areas of life. According to Psychology Today, perfectionism is one trait that has been identified as a particularly strong risk factor for disordered eating. Many people who are classified as “perfectionists” have a tendency toward trying to control their environment and the outcomes of situations they are in. Because perfectionism is often viewed as an admirable trait and is, thus, praised, disordered behaviors can sometimes be masked by high achievement. Despite the high achievement, though, perfectionism is a desire to succeed driven by anxiety and fear. 

Perfectionism can lend itself to creating and trying to maintain strict food rules, a workout routine, and/or an intense pursuit to look a certain way. This is a contributing factor to a body image struggle, as well.

2. Need for Control

Slightly adjacent to perfectionism, needing control does not always manifest itself in a desire for high achievement. Those who are characterized by a need for control often have a strong desire to exert influence and dominance over situations and people. 

3. Impulsivity

Impulsivity is the tendency to act without thinking, or with little to no forethought. Impulsivity and compulsivity are both thought to be traits that contribute to the development and maintenance of Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia. The inability to regulate impulses, especially when under stress or pressure, can create a cycle of uncontrolled eating and strict attempts to "reset" the behavior, which reinforces the disorder over time.

4. Neuroticism

Neuroticism is a personality trait characterized by the tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, worry, fear, anger, frustration, envy, jealousy, pessimism, guilt, and loneliness. A study done in 2016 and then reviewed in 2020 found a link between elevated neuroticism and an increased incidence of eating disorders and higher body image dissatisfaction (Allen & Robson, 2020; Allen & Walter, 2016). Neuroticism has been linked to binge eating disorder, bulimia, anorexia, and other specified feeding and eating disorder. 

Those with elevated neuroticism often experience difficulties with emotional regulation and heightened stress reactivity. This combination increases your emotional vulnerability, amplifies reactions to stressful situations, and fosters a negative self-perception—all of which can lead to disordered eating behaviors as a maladaptive strategy for managing persistent negative emotions.

The Dual Role of Personality Traits Through the Eating Disorder Journey

The personality traits that can predispose someone to and aid someone in developing an eating disorder are some of the same traits that can help someone be successful throughout the recovery process. This is, in part, why it can be so helpful to identify if there are personality traits that are contributing to the maintenance of an eating disorder. If these traits can still be used, but just in a way that promotes recovery, the already challenging journey of recovery may feel just a bit lighter.

Reframing 4 Personality Traits to Empower You Through the Recovery Process

1. Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a personality trait that can be channeled into a desire to become the most healthy, whole version of yourself. If and when that becomes the goal, perfectionism is a trait that can help push you to stick to a recovery plan. 

2. Impulsivity

While impulsivity may contribute to the development of certain eating disorders, it can also be a catalyst for change in the recovery process. Recognizing the triggers and immediate emotional responses can lead to the development of targeted interventions, such as mindfulness practices and impulse control techniques. If you are aware that you struggle with impulsiveness, you may find that you are able to fully dive into the recovery process and work to transform impulsivity into an opportunity for self-reflection and behavioral adjustment.

3. Need for Control

The same desire for control that may contribute to rigid eating behaviors can be redirected positively during recovery. When you learn healthier ways to manage your environment and emotional responses, your need for control can be harnessed to establish and maintain effective coping strategies and, for example, structured meal plans if that is part of your recovery process.

4. Neuroticism 

While neuroticism is often associated with emotional instability and heightened sensitivity to stress, this sensitivity can actually be harnessed in ways that support your recovery:

• Heightened Self-Awareness:
  People high in neuroticism tend to be very attuned to their internal emotional states. This self-awareness can be a valuable asset in recovery, as it may help you quickly recognize when you’re experiencing negative emotions or stressors that could trigger disordered eating behaviors. Early recognition allows for timely intervention, whether through coping strategies learned in therapy or by reaching out for support.

• Motivation to Avoid Negative Outcomes:
  Because those with higher levels of neuroticism are particularly sensitive to negative experiences, they may be more motivated to avoid behaviors or situations that could exacerbate stressful situations. This heightened sensitivity can lead to a strong commitment to recovery practices, such as sticking to a treatment plan, actively participating in support groups, or even being committed to staying in a treatment program overall, in order to maintain emotional stability.

Shaping Your Recovery by Turning Challenges into Strengths

A deeper understanding of the personality traits that could predispose someone to develop an eating disorder, perpetuate its development, and then, conversely, be used productively throughout the recovery process is a vital component of understanding your own journey or the journey of someone you are supporting through recovery. 

This can be an entry point for more empathy and compassion for your own or someone else’s experience, while also highlighting that these traits can be strengths when channeled appropriately. Remember, no single “personality type” or trait is solely responsible for the development of an eating disorder; instead, it’s a combination of multiple factors that play a role. For example, I have come to see my desire for order and control not only as a potential risk factor but also as a resource that, when managed well, supports my recovery process. Recognizing that the personality traits we have can serve as both a challenge and a resource can be an empowering reminder that even our challenging traits can ultimately guide us toward healing and growth. 

By: Erika Muller, Assistant for Wildflower Therapy LLC

All images via Unsplash

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