Stress appraisal prospectively predicts binge eating through increases in negative affect

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Eating Disorders Research

Background:

• Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies suggest a transactional model of emotion regulation in eating disorders.
• This model posits that stress appraisal leads to negative affect (NA) and subsequent binge eating (BE).
• However, temporal dynamics and clinically significant thresholds for stress appraisal require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the temporal relationship between stress appraisal, NA changes, and BE.
• To determine the magnitude of stress appraisal that signifies clinically significant increases in NA and BE.
• To identify stressors associated with clinically significant stress appraisal.

Main Methods:

• 37 adult females participated in a 2-week EMA protocol.
• Data collected included momentary stressors, stress appraisal, NA, and BE.
• Multilevel mediation models were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• Momentary stress appraisal significantly predicted BE through NA.
• Stress appraisal 0.50 SD above average predicted BE likelihood via NA.
• BE likelihood increased with every 0.25 increment in momentary stress appraisal.
• Work/school and interpersonal stressors were most linked to clinically significant stress appraisal.

Conclusions:

• The study supports the transactional model of emotion dysregulation in binge eating.
• Momentary interventions during periods of significant stress appraisal may reduce BE risk.