Journal article
Difficulties with emotion regulation and weight/shape concerns as predictors of eating disorder behaviors among adolescents
Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, Vol.132(1), pp.91-100
2023
PMID: 36480412
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Abstract
Background: Difficulties with emotion regulation are a proposed key transdiagnostic factor of mental health difficulties, including eating disorders. However, it remains unclear whether difficulties with emotion regulation prospectively predict engagement in eating disorder behaviors. The current study examined whether difficulties with emotion regulation were associated with eating disorder behaviors after 1 year, in addition to weight and shape concerns.
Method: A community sample of high school students (
= 3,074; 53.2% girls) completed self-report measures of eating behaviors, weight/shape concerns, and difficulties with emotion regulation at two timepoints, 1 year apart.
Results: Findings indicated that greater difficulties with emotion regulation were uniquely associated with engaging in binge eating, fasting, and purging after 1 year. However, only greater weight and shape concerns, not difficulties with emotion regulation, were uniquely associated with engaging in driven exercise. Limited associations were detected for the frequency of eating disorder behaviors. Additionally, exploratory analyses were conducted to examine potential onset and persistence of eating disorder behaviors. Few gender differences were observed across analyses, with the exception of driven exercise, which was linked to difficulties with emotion regulation only among adolescent boys, but not girls.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that difficulties with emotion regulation are a distinct factor in the occurrence of some eating disorder behaviors among adolescents. Exploratory findings further suggest that difficulties with emotion regulation appear to be particularly involved in the persistence of these behaviors in adolescents.
Details
- Title
- Difficulties with emotion regulation and weight/shape concerns as predictors of eating disorder behaviors among adolescents
- Creators
- Nora Trompeter - Macquarie UniversityKay Bussey - Macquarie UniversityMiriam K Forbes - Macquarie UniversityScott Griffiths - University of MelbourneJonathan Mond - University of TasmaniaPhillipa Hay - Western Sydney UniversityAlexandra Lonergan - Macquarie UniversityJack Tame - Macquarie UniversityDeborah Mitchison - Macquarie University
- Publication Details
- Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, Vol.132(1), pp.91-100
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association
- Grant note
- Australian Government; Research Training Program National Health and Medical Research Council Macquarie University
- Identifiers
- 991013398155002368
- Copyright
- © 2023 APA, all rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article