Emily K Burr1, Robert D Dvorak2, Brittany L Stevenson3, Lauren M Schaefer4, Stephen A Wonderlich5. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, United States of America. Electronic address: emily.burr@knights.ucf.edu. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, United States of America. Electronic address: robert.dvorak@ucf.edu. 3. University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry, United States of America. Electronic address: steve473@umn.edu. 4. Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, United States of America. 5. Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, United States of America. Electronic address: Stephen.Wonderlich@sanfordhealth.org.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Loss-of-control eating (LOCE), inability to refrain from or cease eating, may contribute to significant distress and dysfunction, yet research is lacking specificity on vulnerabilities contributing to LOCE as an independent construct. Preliminary evidence indicates potential roles of distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and affective lability, but the relationship between these variables and LOCE has been under-assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample (N = 3968) consisting of university students completed an assessment of pathological eating and affiliated affective vulnerabilities. A latent variable structural equation model (SEM) was generated to predict LOCE by way of affective lability and indirectly, emotion regulation difficulties and low distress tolerance, controlling for general eating pathology. RESULTS: Findings indicated a significant direct effect of affective lability on LOCE, as well as significant indirect effects of emotion regulation difficulties and distress tolerance on LOCE, via affect lability. Additionally, distress tolerance moderated the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and affective lability, such that lower ability to tolerate distress strengthened the relationship and higher distress tolerance capability attenuated it. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest an influence of distress tolerance on the relationship between poor emotion regulation and affective lability, which in turn may affect LOCE. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
INTRODUCTION: Loss-of-control eating (LOCE), inability to refrain from or cease eating, may contribute to significant distress and dysfunction, yet research is lacking specificity on vulnerabilities contributing to LOCE as an independent construct. Preliminary evidence indicates potential roles of distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and affective lability, but the relationship between these variables and LOCE has been under-assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample (N = 3968) consisting of university students completed an assessment of pathological eating and affiliated affective vulnerabilities. A latent variable structural equation model (SEM) was generated to predict LOCE by way of affective lability and indirectly, emotion regulation difficulties and low distress tolerance, controlling for general eating pathology. RESULTS: Findings indicated a significant direct effect of affective lability on LOCE, as well as significant indirect effects of emotion regulation difficulties and distress tolerance on LOCE, via affect lability. Additionally, distress tolerance moderated the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and affective lability, such that lower ability to tolerate distress strengthened the relationship and higher distress tolerance capability attenuated it. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest an influence of distress tolerance on the relationship between poor emotion regulation and affective lability, which in turn may affect LOCE. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Authors: Michael D Anestis; Edward A Selby; Ross D Crosby; Stephen A Wonderlich; Scott G Engel; Thomas E Joiner Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2010-03-20
Authors: Kerstin K Blomquist; Christina A Roberto; Rachel D Barnes; Marney A White; Robin M Masheb; Carlos M Grilo Journal: Psychol Assess Date: 2013-11-11
Authors: Kelly C Berg; Li Cao; Ross D Crosby; Scott G Engel; Carol B Peterson; Scott J Crow; Daniel Le Grange; James E Mitchell; Jason M Lavender; Nora Durkin; Stephen A Wonderlich Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2017-08-29 Impact factor: 4.861