# Analysis of Inflexibility and Eating Disorders According to the Theory of Control by Justifications and Immediate Consequences (TJC)

## TL;DR

This study explores if vegetarian university students have different eating disorder symptoms and inflexibility compared to non-vegetarians, finding higher risk in females and a link between inflexibility and disturbed eating attitudes.

## Contribution

The study introduces an analysis of eating disorders and inflexibility through the Theory of Control by Justifications and Immediate Consequences (TJC), focusing on dietary habits and gender differences.

## Key findings

- Female students showed a significantly higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes compared to male students.
- Participants with higher behavioral inflexibility tended to exhibit more disturbed eating attitudes.
- Vegetarian students had a higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes, but the difference was not statistically significant.

## Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated whether vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students exhibit distinct responses to questionnaires assessing symptoms of eating disorders and inflexibility to change. Methods: Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Disordered Eating Attitudes Scale, and the Behavioral Inflexibility Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including relative risk (RR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and p-values. Results: Results indicated that vegetarian students presented a higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes compared to omnivores (RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.53–2.54; p = 0.69), though this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, female students presented a significantly higher risk of disturbed eating attitudes than male students (RR = 2.72; 95% CI = 1.07–6.8; p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed for race/ethnicity, or field of study in relation to disturbed eating attitudes. Regarding behavioral inflexibility, no significant differences were found between vegetarians and omnivores (RR = 1.74; 95% CI = 0.60–4.98; p = 0.29) or between female and male students (RR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.42–3.33; p = 0.78). Conclusions: Additionally, participants characterized by higher behavioral inflexibility tended to exhibit more disturbed eating attitudes, highlighting the association between behavioral rigidity and eating-related patterns. The results are analyzed according to the TJC.