This study assesses the differential use of coping and personality trait of patients with eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified - EDNOS), obesity as well as in subjects from the general population. 109 subjects participated in the study (60 with eating disorder or obesity diagnostics; 49 from the general population). The instruments were Personality Trait Scale, Coping Response Inventory and Eating Attitudes Scale (EAS). It was observed significant differences on EAS according to the type of population, demonstrating this instrument's adequacy as psychopathological screening for eating disorders. Moreover, individuals presenting high neuroticism and who discharge their emotion to cope with their problems have more inadequate eating attitudes as shown by EAS (R=0.291, p=0.011). These results are discussed through theories related to the Big Five personality traits, coping, eating disorders and obesity.
Personality trait; Coping; Eating disorders; Obesity
