A theoretical review of interpersonal emotion regulation in eating disorders: enhancing knowledge by bridging interpersonal and affective dysfunction

Abstract

Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) frequently report interpersonal and affective dysfunction. A useful lens for uniting these ideas is through the framework of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER), which consists of the ways others assist a distressed individual and how this shapes his or her subsequent emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses. In this theoretical review, we provide an overview of the rationale for exploring IER and review IER processes in this population using the framework of the Process Model of Emotion Regulation. Finally, we offer suggestions for next steps in conducting research. IER offers a parsimonious way to explore social and emotional constructs related to ED pathology and may provide potential targets for prevention and intervention in these difficult-to-treat disorders.

Psychological Risk Factors for the Development of Restrictive and Bulimic Eating Behaviors: A Polish and Vietnamese Comparison

“…No such relationship was found in Polish women. Christensen and Haynos [82], Levine [83], and Hempel et al [84] have also indicated the importance of the sense of loneliness and negative interpersonal relationships as risk factors for eating disorders (i.e., anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating).…”

Interpersonal Emotion Regulation: From Research to Group Therapy

“…In the step of cognitive change, interpersonal influence may involve the generation and the selection of alternative interpretations, the highlight or supply of schema-inconsistent information, the explicit correction of cognitions, and the addition of flexible processing resources. Christensen and Haynos (2020), also starting from Gross's model, have conceptualized IER as strategies involving situation selection or situation modification (for example, IER strategies helping individuals to avoid exposure to situations that elicit an emotional response or helping individuals to change that situation), as well as response modulation (for example, expressive suppression may be used to deal with perceived social concerns about the appropriateness of one's expressed emotions). Zaki and Williams (2013) introduced the distinction between response-dependent IER that requires particular qualities of another person's response (for example, after emotional sharing the person may receive support depending on the response of the other), and response-independent IER, which does not require a particular response from the other person (for example, labeling the emotion as effective regardless of the others' response).…”

“…Early theoretical contributions in the field of IER have considered its implication for emotional disorders conceptualization and treatment (Marroquín, 2011;Hofmann, 2014;Christensen and Haynos, 2020), assuming the key role of IER as a mediator factor in the widely described negative association between depression and social support (Marroquín, 2011). According to this view, depression is negatively influenced by the lack of opportunities to interpersonally regulate emotions in socially supporting context, and this problem plausibly concerns any psychopathology that is influenced by social isolation.…”

The Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA): A Feasibility Case Series of an Integrated Group Based Approach.

“…A core maintenance loop in the MANTRA model involves the emotional and social mind. There is overwhelming evidence that individuals with AN struggle with emotional processing, particularly in interpersonal contexts (19)(20). Areas of di culty include the identi cation of emotions, emotional tolerance and the integration of emotional material into the self and sense of self in the social world (20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

“…Opportunities to support the emotional regulation of others, as well as receiving emotional support ourselves are critical in targeting affective and interpersonal de cits (19,(29)(30)(31). Furthermore, the Window of Emotional Tolerance (WoT) for those with AN can be especially narrow meaning that intellectualised -or 'paper and pencil' type approaches to therapy -enable patients to remain 'safe' yet emotionally 'cut off' and not amenable to social and emotional processing (32).…”