Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
08:26
Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
13.3K
Stressful task increases drive for thinness and bulimia: a laboratory study
Sandra Sassaroli1, Francesca Fiore1, Clarice Mezzaluna1
1"Studi Cognitivi", Post-Graduate Cognitive Psychotherapy School Milano, Italy.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 23, 2015
Summary
This study found that laboratory-induced stress significantly increased self-reported drive for thinness and bulimic symptoms in participants. Stress appears to be a key factor in the development of eating disorders (ED).
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Scientific literature suggests stress is foundational to the development of eating disorders (ED).
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms linking stress to ED symptoms is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if experimentally induced stress elevates self-reported drive for thinness and bulimic symptoms.
- To examine the interplay between control, perfectionism, stress, and cognitive factors in ED.
Main Methods:
- Correlational methodology was employed with 86 participants.
- Participants completed a battery of self-report tests before and after a stressful laboratory task.
- Path analysis was used to model cognitive pathways related to ED.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in average scores for drive for thinness and bulimia was observed post-stress induction.
- Path analysis identified two distinct cognitive models explaining the development of drive for thinness and bulimia.
- Stress was confirmed as a significant factor influencing these ED-related measures.
Conclusions:
- Experimentally induced stress can exacerbate drive for thinness and bulimic symptoms.
- Cognitive pathways mediate the relationship between stress and eating disorder symptomatology.
- These findings underscore the critical role of stress in the etiology of eating disorders.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
1.1K
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
1.1K
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
2.0K
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
2.0K
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
799
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
799
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
854
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
854
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
19.1K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
19.1K
01:27Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation
1.7K
Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or...
1.7K