Introduction: The system of values is of significant importance for health behaviours. Studies confirm the relation between various personal resources and behaviours, on the one hand, and the preferred values, on the other. However, there is a lack of reports on the relations between the system of values and the mental health disorders. The aim of the present studies was to establish the relation between the severity of depression symptoms and the system of values in women with eating disorders and in subgroups of bulimic and anorectic women distinguished due to the form of the disorder.

Method of studies – totally, 100 women with eating disorders were examined, including 50 with anorexia and 50 with bulimia, in accordance with the ICD-10 classification; the Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ-R2) and 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were used.

Results: Preference of values expressing fear, conformity and tradition were associated with the severity of depression in persons with eating disorders, while the value safety – with a decrease of symptoms. A high assessment of the value power in bulimic women was related to increased depression, which was diff erent from that in anorectic women. Preference of values which were not a sign of fear, namely self-direction and stimulation, in women with eating disorders was connected with a decrease of depression. A high assessment of the value benevolence in women with bulimia resulted in a decrease, while in anorectic women in an increase of depression symptoms. Preference of the value hedonism in bulimic women was related to a decrease of symptom, which showed a diff erent picture in anorectic women. In both subgroups, universalism, on the other hand, indicated increased severity of depression symptoms.

Conclusions: To generalize the obtained results, it should be stated that the relations between the severity of depression symptoms and the system of values in women with eating disorders and in subgroups of bulimic and anorectic women distinguished due to the form of the disorder turned out to be much more complex than was assumed in the adopted hypothesis. Programmes of prophylaxis and treatment of eating disorders should consider the relations between the preferred values and the severity of depression.

System wartości a nasilenie objawów depresji u kobiet z zaburzeniami odżywiania

Wprowadzenie: System wartości ma istotne znaczenie dla podejmowania zachowań zdrowotnych. Badania potwierdzają występowanie zależności pomiędzy rozmaitymi dyspozycjami podmiotowymi i zachowaniami a preferowanymi wartościami. Brakuje natomiast doniesień dotyczących powiązań sytemu wartości z zaburzeniami zdrowia psychicznego.

Cel badań: Podjęte badania miały na celu poszukiwanie związków między depresją a systemem wartości u osób z zaburzeniami odżywiania oraz w wy254 Anna WIATROWSKA odrębnionych ze względu na postać zaburzenia podgrupach.

Metoda badań: Przebadano 50 kobiet z jadłowstrętem psychicznym i 50 z rozpoznaniem bulimii, według klasyfikacji ICD-10. Zastosowano Portretowy Kwestionariusz Wartości (PVQ-R2) Schwartza i 21–itemową Skalę Depresji Hamiltona (HAM-D).

Wyniki: Preferencja wartości będących wyrazem lęku, przystosowanie i tradycja wiązały się u osób z zaburzeniami odżywiania z nasileniem depresji, natomiast wartości bezpieczeństwo ze spadkiem objawów. Wysoka ocena wartości władza u kobiet z bulimią powiązana była ze wzrostem depresji, odmiennie niż u kobiet z anoreksją. Preferencja wartości nie będących przejawem lęku, samokierowanie i stymulacja wiązały się u kobiet z zaburzeniami odżywiania ze spadkiem depresji. Wysoka ocena wartości życzliwość skutkowała u kobiet z bulimią osłabieniem, zaś u kobiet z anoreksją nasileniem objawów depresji. Preferencja wartości hedonizm u kobiet z bulimią łączyła się ze spadkiem objawów, odmiennie u kobiet z anoreksją, natomiast uniwersalizm skutkował w obu podgrupach wzrostem nasilenia objawów depresji.

Wnioski: Uogólniając uzyskane rezultaty należy stwierdzić, iż zależności między nasileniem objawów depresji a systemem wartości u kobiet z zaburzeniami odżywiania oraz w wyodrębnionych ze względu na typ zaburzenia podgrupach okazały się znacznie bardziej złożone niż zakładano w przyjętej hipotezie. Programy profi laktyki i leczenia zaburzeń odżywiania powinny uwzględniać powiązania między preferowanymi wartościami a nasileniem depresji.

Introduction: The system of values is of significant importance for health behaviours. Studies confirm the relation between various personal resources and behaviours, on the one hand, and the preferred values, on the other. However, there is a lack of reports on the relations between the system of values and the mental health disorders. The aim of the present studies was to establish the relation between the severity of depression symptoms and the system of values in women with eating disorders and in subgroups of bulimic and anorectic women distinguished due to the form of the disorder.

Method of studies – totally, 100 women with eating disorders were examined, including 50 with anorexia and 50 with bulimia, in accordance with the ICD-10 classification; the Schwartz’s Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ-R2) and 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were used.

Results: Preference of values expressing fear, conformity and tradition were associated with the severity of depression in persons with eating disorders, while the value safety – with a decrease of symptoms. A high assessment of the value power in bulimic women was related to increased depression, which was diff erent from that in anorectic women. Preference of values which were not a sign of fear, namely self-direction and stimulation, in women with eating disorders was connected with a decrease of depression. A high assessment of the value benevolence in women with bulimia resulted in a decrease, while in anorectic women in an increase of depression symptoms. Preference of the value hedonism in bulimic women was related to a decrease of symptom, which showed a diff erent picture in anorectic women. In both subgroups, universalism, on the other hand, indicated increased severity of depression symptoms.

Conclusions: To generalize the obtained results, it should be stated that the relations between the severity of depression symptoms and the system of values in women with eating disorders and in subgroups of bulimic and anorectic women distinguished due to the form of the disorder turned out to be much more complex than was assumed in the adopted hypothesis. Programmes of prophylaxis and treatment of eating disorders should consider the relations between the preferred values and the severity of depression.