The interaction between affective lability and eating expectancies predicts binge eating
Anna Marie L Ortiz1, Heather A Davis2, Elizabeth N Riley3
1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Eating Disorders
|April 13, 2021
Summary
Emotional instability and beliefs about eating predict binge eating. When combined, these factors pose a greater risk for developing binge eating behaviors in college students.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- Affective lability and eating expectancies are known predictors of binge eating.
- The combined effect of these factors may present a heightened risk, particularly expectancies for emotional relief through eating.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prospective predictive power of the interaction between affective lability and eating expectancies on binge eating in college students.
- To determine if expectancies for affective relief from eating are amplified in individuals with high affective lability.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 358 college students.
- Assessment of affective lability, eating expectancies, and binge eating at two time points (December and April) during the first academic year.
- Statistical analysis to examine the interaction effect on binge eating.
Main Results:
- The interaction between affective lability and eating expectancies in December prospectively predicted binge eating in April.
- The impact of eating expectancies on binge eating was significantly stronger for individuals with higher levels of affective lability.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that interacting risk factors can synergistically increase the risk for eating disorder behaviors.
- The interplay between affective lability and eating expectancies is a critical factor in predicting binge eating.
- Identifying co-occurring risk factors has significant implications for developing targeted interventions and treatment strategies for eating disorders.
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