Self‐esteem and binge eating: Do patients with binge eating disorder endorse more negatively worded items of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale?

Objective Self‐esteem is a core aspect of eating disorder symptomatology. This study aims to examine whether method effects associated with negatively worded items of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSES) may interact the negative self‐evaluations experienced by patients with obesity and binge eating disorder (BED). We also examined whether negatively worded items were associated with psychological distress and eating symptoms. Method Five hundred thirty three female outpatients (mean age: 42.59) with BED (n = 160) or obesity without BED (n = 373) completed the RSES and measures of interpersonal problems, psychological distress, and eating symptoms. Results Patients with BED responded more strongly to the negatively worded items of the RSES than those with obesity. The RSES negatively worded item factor was negatively associated with higher interpersonal problems, psychological distress, and binge eating. Conclusions Patients with BED may be more responsive to negatively phrased items on the RSES consistent with their negative self‐evaluations and self‐perceptions.