Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of proposed model relationships between perceived stress, mediator avoidant coping style and eating pathology (disordered eating attitudes and behaviours). Perceived stress is an observed measured variable, and avoidant coping style and eating pathology are unobserved latent variables comprised of measurement indicators and associated error terms (e1–e13). The observed variables in the model are outcome scores from the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Brief COPE and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q).