Metacognitions, emotion and disordered eating in women

• Main Author: Norweg, Susanne
• Published: University of Birmingham 2012
• Subjects: 616.85; BF Psychology
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.619346

Objective: This study investigates the relationships between metacognitions, emotions and disordered eating in women with or without an eating disorder, as well as differences between these groups. Method: 326 participants were included in the study and completed the following questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30) and the Eating Disorder Examination Self-Report Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Results: Women with an eating disorder expressed more metacognitive concerns than women without a significant disordered eating pathology. Regression analysis showed that the majority of eating disorder symptoms were predicted by anxiety and depression for both groups, but the need to control thoughts was the only metacognition which stood out as an independent predictor of disordered eating. Discussion: Implications of these findings as well as the limitations of this study are discussed.