Reviewer Comments to Author(s):
Reviewer #1 (Jillon Vander Wal, PhD):
Overall, this is a clear, concise, and well-written manuscript. The introduction is relevant and
theory based. Sufficient information about the previous study findings is presented for readers to
follow the present study rationale and procedures. The methods are generally appropriate,
although clarification of a few details and provision of a rationale for the use of this particular
method of measuring eating disorder symptoms should be provided. Overall, the results are clear
and compelling with two possible exceptions. The use of the word path analysis suggests the use
of a certain analytic technique which does not appear to have been used. Also, use of the word
"step" has more than a single interpretation. The authors make a systematic contribution to the
research literature in this area of investigation. The longitudinal nature of the work, albeit with
college students, is a welcome addition. Overall, this is a high quality manuscript that has
implications for the theoretical basis, development, and maintenance of disturbed eating attitudes
and behaviors; however, the relevance to nursing per se is uncertain. Specific comments follow.
Introduction
p. 2, lines 3 - 6: The term "ranging from" suggests that there must be a "to."
p. 2, line 14 and p. 4, line 3: Please change "&" to "and."
p. 3, line 3; p. 5, line 10; p. 5, line 13; p. 17, line 12; p. 18, line 3: First person is generally to be
avoided. As this is an extension of a previous study, this becomes more challenging.
p. 3, line 16: The word "to" should be inserted between "referred" and "as."
p. 3, line 19: The word "of" should be inserted between "pattern" and "information."
p. 5, line 7: The word "participants" would be a better word choice than the phrase, "clinical
samples."
p. 5, line 21: Change "yr" to "year."
Methods
p. 6, line 23: Referring to scores on the EDI subscales as attitudes is rather unusual. Suggest
changing the word "attitudes" to "scores."
p. 7, lines 3 - 9: It would be helpful to perform a Chi-Square to determine if a greater percentage
of women from the DEB group than the control group discontinued participation.
p. 8, lines 4-5: Providing an estimate of the test-retest reliability would be helpful.
p. 8, lines 7-8: The reference to Markus should appear prior to the references to Rogers.