Timo Brockmeyer1,2, Kathrin Burdenski2, Alisa Anderle2, Mona M Voges3, Silja Vocks3, Hagen Schmidt4, Wally Wünsch-Leiteritz4, Andreas Leiteritz4, Hans-Christoph Friederich2,5. 1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany. 2. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 3. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany. 4. Klinik Lueneburger Heide, Bad Bevensen, Germany. 5. Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The two studies aimed to examine implicit affective evaluations of thin-ideal and normal-weight body shapes in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), taking identification with body shapes into account. METHOD: In study 1, approach-avoidance bias for thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies was assessed in 40 women with AN and 40 healthy women by using an Approach-Avoidance Task and female avatar bodies with a standard face as stimuli. In study 2, 39 women with AN and 38 healthy women underwent a similar task but identification with bodies was manipulated by presenting bodies once with the participant's own face and once with another woman's face. RESULTS: In study 1, patients with AN did not differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach-avoidance tendencies towards thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies. In study 2, no definite approach bias for a thin self and no avoidance bias for thin other women or for a normal-weight self were found. However, as compared to healthy women, those with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other women, and an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that intra-sexual competition for being slim is increased in AN. HIGHLIGHTS: Patients with AN did not generally differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach-avoidance tendencies towards thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies Women with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other women Women with AN showed an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman.
OBJECTIVE: The two studies aimed to examine implicit affective evaluations of thin-ideal and normal-weight body shapes in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), taking identification with body shapes into account. METHOD: In study 1, approach-avoidance bias for thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies was assessed in 40 women with AN and 40 healthy women by using an Approach-Avoidance Task and female avatar bodies with a standard face as stimuli. In study 2, 39 women with AN and 38 healthy women underwent a similar task but identification with bodies was manipulated by presenting bodies once with the participant's own face and once with another woman's face. RESULTS: In study 1, patients with AN did not differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach-avoidance tendencies towards thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies. In study 2, no definite approach bias for a thin self and no avoidance bias for thin other women or for a normal-weight self were found. However, as compared to healthy women, those with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other women, and an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that intra-sexual competition for being slim is increased in AN. HIGHLIGHTS: Patients with AN did not generally differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach-avoidance tendencies towards thin-ideal and normal-weight bodies Women with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other womenWomen with AN showed an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman.