The aim of this study was to examine personality characteristics of women’s college students with a tendency toward eating disorder using MMPI. Results showed that those with the tendency were significantly higher on 11 clinical scales than those who did not. Those with the tendency were not very high on Scale 4, psychopathy scale that indicates lack of self-control and impulsiveness, and not low on Scale 5, masculinityfemininity scale that indicates activity and self-assertion. Therefore, they did not show passive-aggressiveness that eating disorder patients normally manifested. It was suggested that with not so high psychopathy (Scale 4), they could put over-eating and vomiting under control, and because they did not show passive-aggressiveness, they could express their feelings and emotions relatively clearly. For these reasons, although they had the tendency, they might not have developed eating disorders.

Key words: eating disorders, tendency toward eating disorder, women’s college students, MMPI, personality characteristics