Features of the emotional sphere of high school students as a risk factor for the development of eating disorders

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of maladaptive forms of guilt in the etiology and progression of eating disorders among high school students. Eating disorders are a serious problem in the adolescent population and can have long-lasting negative effects on physical and mental health. Signs of anorexia, bulimia, as well as compulsive and emotion-driven overeating were identified among the high school students participating in the study. The objective of the study is to understand how maladaptive forms of guilt, as identified by L. Connor — such as survivor guilt, hyper-responsibility guilt, separation guilt and selfhatred guilt — can be risk factors for the development of eating disorders in high school students. The research results show that adolescents with high levels of maladaptive guilt have a significant risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia and binge eating. The article presents key characteristics of maladaptive forms of guilt and their connection to eating disorders, as well as explores the psychological mechanisms that explain the link between maladaptive guilt and negative body image, pursuit of the ideal figure and control over eating behavior. The article also includes real-life examples and results from a study conducted by the in three schools in St. Petersburg which are located at a close distance from each other. This said study was conducted was made to ensure more reliable results, as the methodology of studying maladaptive forms of guilt does not have specific reference values and is assessed based on the mean score with standard deviation taken into account. The research confirmed the link between maladaptive guilt and eating disorders in high school students. It contributes to understanding the mechanisms of the onset and development of eating disorders in adolescents and can serve as a basis for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for such disorders. Overall, the findings emphasize the importance of early detection of and individual approaches to high school students with high levels of maladaptive guilt in order to prevent and treat eating disorders and improve the quality of life of such students.