Date of Award

10-19-2015

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Disordered eating, Emotion intensity, Emotion regulation, Self-compassion

Supervisor

Pascual-Leone, Antonio

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between disordered eating patterns (i.e., dieting, binging, and binge/purging) and emotion processing deficits (i.e., perceived emotion intensity, emotion regulation, and self-compassion). The sample consisted of 209 undergraduate participants who completed a series of self-reports measuring concepts of emotion processing and disordered eating. Additionally, they described an upsetting event and their subsequent coping to feel better. Results indicated that higher levels of disordered eating are associated with higher emotional processing deficits, specifically high levels of perceived emotion intensity, difficulty regulating affect, and diminished self-compassion. Furthermore, emotion regulation mediated the relationship between emotion intensity and disordered eating. Each disordered eating type was associated with a specific profile of emotion regulation difficulties. High levels of self-compassion were associated with low levels of disordered eating and low levels of emotion processing deficits. Self-compassion was therefore identified as a significant factor in understanding the interplay between emotion processing and disordered eating patterns.

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