Underlying Processes in the Development of Eating Disorder Symptoms

• Main Author: Wood, Ashley M.
• Language: EN
• Published: Roosevelt University 2016
• Subjects: Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10143511

<p> This study examined the extent to which biological vulnerability process variables and experiential vulnerability process variables predicted specific eating disorder (ED) symptoms. One-hundred and thirty one participants completed the following questionnaires via an online survey system, Qualtrics: the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-6, the BIS/BAS scale, the PANAS, the RPI, the EOSS, and a demographic questionnaire. Factor analysis was used to reduce the ED symptom scores to sample-specific ED factors, and multiple regression analyses were used to test the extent to which process variables predicted sample-specific ED factors. Noteworthy was that both experiential vulnerability process variables provided individual contributions to the models, with EOSS component scores significantly predicting all sample-specific ED factors and RPI total significantly predicting the Fear Regarding Body and Food factor and the Restraint factor. Although BIS and PA emerged as significant predictors for some of the sample-specific ED factors, biological vulnerability processes were less likely to be significant predictors. Exploratory analyses examined how process variables contributed to the definition of ED symptom groups. Findings, implications, methodological issues, and recommendations for future research are discussed.</p>