Exploring the Changes in Social Interaction and Its Protective Features in Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder often characterised by restriction of food intake, being underweight, body image uneasiness, and the possibility of binge eating, purging, fasting behaviours, and excessive exercising. Despite weight and eating habits being one, and perhaps the most recognizable, components of AN, AN is a multidimensional disease. For example, individuals affected by AN might show psychological suffering, such as depression and anxiety. For example, social anxiety disorder/social phobia is the first or second most common comorbid anxiety in AN (i.e. prevalence rates ranging from 16% to 88.2% in AN against 12% in the general population). Moreover, the highest the level of social anxiety the highest the severity of the eating disorder psychopathology. This latter component resonates with findings on the difficulties observed in people affected by AN in creating and maintaining satisfactory relationships with others. These evidences tell us the importance to take into account the social components/skills of people affected by AN. The development of social components/skills of people affected by AN during their recovery can be considered as a protective factor for future relapse. This would be of relevance for the creation of rehabilitative programs.