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Habitual behavioural control moderates the relation between daily perceived stress and purging
Elizabeth N Dougherty1, Angeline R Bottera2, Matthew F Murray1
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Interpersonal stress increases purging frequency in women whose purging is habitual. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the link between stress, habit strength, and binge eating and purging behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Interpersonal stress is linked to binge eating and purging behaviors.
- Habitual engagement in these behaviors may increase vulnerability during stressful periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if habit strength moderates the relationship between interpersonal stress and binge eating/purging.
- To examine this hypothesis in women with binge eating and/or purging symptoms using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
Main Methods:
- 81 women with binge eating and/or purging symptoms completed a habit strength measure.
- A 14-day EMA protocol assessed daily interpersonal stress and binge eating/purging episodes.
Main Results:
- Habit strength of purging moderated the effect of interpersonal stress on purging frequency.
- Higher daily stress was linked to increased same-day purging frequency in individuals with habitual purging.
- No significant interaction was found between habit strength of binge eating and daily interpersonal stress on binge eating frequency.
Conclusions:
- Habitual purging may make individuals more susceptible to purging when experiencing interpersonal stress.
- Findings highlight the role of habit in the stress-maintenance cycle of purging behaviors.
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