Think Yourself Thin: Concern for Appropriateness Mediates the Link Between Hypnotizability and Disordered Eating

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Limited research exists on the link between hypnotizability and disordered eating.
• Previous studies suggest a correlation but haven't explored underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that concern for appropriateness mediates the relationship between hypnotizability and disordered eating.
• To explore the influence of interpersonal messages on hypnotizability in individuals with disordered eating.

Main Methods:

• Fifty participants (aged 15-30) completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Concern for Appropriateness Scale (CAS), and Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C (SHSS:C).
• Statistical analysis, including mediation modeling (Sobel Test), was used to examine the relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Eating Attitudes Test-26 scores significantly predicted Concern for Appropriateness Scale scores (β = 0.24, p < .001).
• Concern for Appropriateness Scale scores significantly predicted Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C scores (β = 0.38, p < .001).
• The mediation model was significant (R² = 0.24, z = 2.54, p < .01), indicating concern for appropriateness partially explains the link.

Conclusions:

• Concern for appropriateness significantly mediates the association between hypnotizability and disordered eating.
• Individuals with problematic eating attitudes may be more hypnotizable due to greater susceptibility to interpersonal messages.
• Findings suggest a psychological mechanism linking disordered eating, hypnotizability, and social influence.