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An Exploration of the Role of Spiritual Distress in Eating Disorder Recovery
Journal article   Peer reviewed

An Exploration of the Role of Spiritual Distress in Eating Disorder Recovery

Haley Graver, Sarah M. Coyne, Lauren A. Barnes and Peter Sanders
Spirituality in clinical practice (Washington, D.C.), v 12(4), pp 448-460
01 Dec 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000388
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

eating disorder treatment spiritual distress religion
Some evidence suggests that spirituality is a protective factor in eating disorder recovery, while other findings indicate that it is harmful. The present study investigates the role of spirituality in eating disorder recovery by tracking the association between trajectories of spiritual distress and eating disorder symptomology throughout treatment. Two hundred seventeen female participants (Mage = 20.06, SD = 7.78) at an eating disorder facility in Orem, Utah, filled out weekly and monthly questionnaires regarding their spiritual distress and eating pathology. We conducted a growth mixture model to examine the differing intercepts and trajectories of spiritual distress. We then examined predictors and outcomes, including change in eating pathology, of each trajectory. Age and depression were used as covariates in all analyses. The analyses revealed three distinct trajectories of spiritual distress-a class for which spiritual distress decreased, a class for which spiritual distress remained constant, and a class for which spiritual distress increased. Decreases in spiritual distress were related to greater decreases in eating disorder symptoms. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the relationship may be bidirectional, indicating that spiritual distress may impact eating disorder symptoms and eating disorder symptoms my impact spiritual distress. There were no significant differences in initial eating disorder symptomology. Some of the classes differed in their endorsement of religion-identity variables. The findings indicate significant interindividual differences in the trajectories of spiritual distress and eating disorder symptomology between classes, emphasizing the need to consider each patient's unique needs when utilizing spirituality-based treatment approaches.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#5 Gender Equality
#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: SDGs in the Output

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychology, Clinical
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