Dimensions of control and their relation to disordered eating behaviours and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Abstract

BackgroundIssues of personal control have been proposed to play a central role in the aetiology and maintenance of eating disorders. Empirical evidence supporting this relationship is inconsistent, partly due to the multiplicity of constructs used to define “control”. This study compares six commonly used measures of control with the aim of determining which operationalisation of control is most centrally relevant to eating pathology. Given the high level of comorbidity between eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder and the potentially common risk/maintenance factors for the two disorders, we also examine the relationship between control and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology.MethodsFemale community participants (N = 175) completed self-report measures of control, eating disorder pathology and obsessive-compulsive symptoms.ResultsMultivariate analyses of variance indicated significant differences between individuals with high vs. low levels of psychopathology on most of the measures of control. Using regression analyses, we found that a sense of ineffectiveness and fear of losing self-control were the only significant independent predictors of eating pathology, and fear of losing self-control was the most significant predictor of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of issues of control, particularly feelings of ineffectiveness and fear of losing self-control, in eating disorder symptoms. Furthermore, our findings suggest that there may be a similar underlying fear of losing self-control among individuals who engage in disordered eating and obsessive-compulsive behaviours. Thus, ineffectiveness and fear of losing self-control are two dimensions that are important to consider in maintenance and treatment models of disordered eating behaviours.

An Explorative Analysis of Binge Eating Disorder Impulsivity among Obese Candidates to Bariatric Surgery

“…On the contrary, obese BED has high scores of impulsivity stressing that the impulse regulation disorder induces binge. These data are consistent with other study underlining that BED has a peculiar form of dishinibition of the impulse control [9,[57][58][59]. So that impulsivity can be considered among obesity mental dimensions marker of BED psychopathology even if also disorder of body image, anxiety and mood contribute to it [29].…”

“…Non planning impulsivity has a higher score than obese non BED but the internal analysis of BIS-11 factors show a less increase. This data is consistent with the other studies [58,59,61] underlining that the inability to think for future (non-planning) seems not to be specific of BED, but can be inserted in the spectrum of Impulse Control disorder to which BED could belong [57,[62][63][64][65][66][67]. Moreover, the high score of EDI-2 Interoceptive Awareness subscale testify the lack of body stimuli perception: specifically the ability to distinguish hunger or satiety signals.…”

A naturalistic investigation of cognitive‐affective dysfunction in anorexia nervosa: The role of inefficiency

“…Another related aspect discussed in the AN literature is "inefficiency," or "ineffectiveness," for example, feelings of inadequacy and lack of control concerning personal goals or competence (Bruch, 1978;Froreich, Vartanian, Grisham, & Touyz, 2016;Jacobi, Paul, De Zwaan, Nutzinger, & Dahme, 2004;Surgenor, Maguire, Russell, & Touyz, 2007). Inefficiency is related to constructs in general and personality psychology regarding perceived control (e.g., low self-efficacy, low sense of control) as well as self-esteem (Froreich, Vartanian, Grisham, & Touyz, 2016;Karpowicz, Skärsäter, & Nevonen, 2009) and includes feelings of deficient subjective control and worthlessness. Inefficiency as a core aspect of AN was first introduced by Hilde Bruch (Bruch, 1978).…”

Psychological need satisfaction, control, and disordered eating

“…Indeed, there was no consistent association between relatedness needs and control in our samples. Although control can be operationalised in a number of ways, two constructs that seem most directly related to eating pathology are ineffectiveness and fear of losing self‐control (FLC; Froreich et al ., ). Eating pathology was assessed using a global measure of ED symptoms, as well as a scale that assesses rituals and preoccupations specific to EDs.…”

“…Studies using qualitative methods paint a similar picture: ED patients commonly describe their disorder as providing a sense of control, will power, or structure to their lives (e.g., Espindola & Blay, ; Patching & Lawler, ; Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale, & Sullivan, ). Recent study by Froreich, Vartanian, Grisham, and Touyz () indicates that the link between control and disordered eating also exists in non‐clinical community samples, suggesting that dysfunctional control beliefs are dimensional rather than categorical in nature. Although there is strong evidence for a link between issues of control and disordered eating, no studies have examined whether issues of control can account for the link between frustrated psychological needs and disordered eating.…”