Negative urgency combined with negative emotionality is linked to eating disorder psychopathology in community women with and without binge eating

Abstract

Objective Previous research has shown that negative emotionality (NE) and negative urgency (NU) are each risk factors for disordered eating behaviors among undergraduates and treatment‐seekers. However, the interaction of these traits in community‐based adults with clinical levels of binge eating is unknown and has implications for risk and maintenance models of disordered eating. Method We examined a moderated‐mediation model of cross‐sectional associations among levels of NE (independent variable), NU (mediator), and eating disorder psychopathology (i.e., eating, shape, and weight concerns, and restraint; dependent variable) in 68 community‐recruited women with current regular binge eating and 75 control women with no eating disorder history (group = moderator). Participants completed semi‐structured diagnostic interviews and self‐report questionnaires measuring NE, NU, eating disorder psychopathology, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Results After adjusting for anxiety and depression symptoms and body mass index, women with binge eating experienced greater NU and eating disorder psychopathology than control women with no eating disorder history. Despite similar levels of NE across groups, both groups exhibited an indirect effect of NE on eating disorder psychopathology via NU. Discussion Our findings suggest that greater NE, coupled with a propensity to engage in rash action when experiencing negative emotions, are associated with eating disorder psychopathology in women with and without eating disorders characterized by binge eating. These findings may help explain why some individuals engage in disordered eating behaviors when experiencing negative affect.

Dimensional personality pathology and disordered eating in young adults: measuring the DSM-5 alternative model using the PID-5

“…We will outline each of the key contributions for our study separately. Our findings were inconsistent with previous studies that have consistently linked impulsivity to binge eating or purging behaviour ( Solomon-Krakus et al, 2019 ; Aloi et al, 2020 ; Legg and Turner, 2021 ; Magel and von Ranson, 2021 ; Gilmartin et al, 2022 , 2023 ). Our findings extend on past research by revealing a direct relationship between impulsivity and chewing and spitting among females.…”

“…Body dissatisfaction was associated with binge eating, purging and muscle building among males. One key finding was that a tendency to act without thinking was associated with binge eating, which is consistent with the current literature which has linked impulsivity to binge eating both using the PID-5 ( Solomon-Krakus et al, 2019 ) and more broadly ( Kittel et al, 2017 ; Magel and von Ranson, 2021 ; Gilmartin et al, 2022 , 2023 ). Importantly, we extended on the Aloi et al (2020) female sample, by finding that PID-5 depression is also associated with binge eating in males, and that the relationship is mediated by body dissatisfaction.…”

Emotion-driven problem behaviour: The predictive utility of positive and negative urgency

“…In that context, positive urgency (PU) refers to acting rashly when experiencing extreme positive emotions, and negative urgency (NU) refers to acting rashly when experiencing extreme negative emotions ( Lynam et al, 2006 ). Both PU and NU have since demonstrated robust support within the literature as predictors of problem behaviour ( Billieux et al, 2010 ), problem gambling ( Teese et al, 2020 ), substance abuse ( Cyders and Smith, 2008 ; Cyders et al, 2010 ), eating disorders ( Magel and Ranson, 2021 ), and have also been shown to interact with pathological conditions including post-traumatic stress, whereby they exacerbated problematic alcohol consumption ( Brown et al, 2021 ).…”

Common Predictive Factors of Social Media Addiction and Eating Disorder Symptoms in Female College Students: State Anxiety and the Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility/Sustained Attention

“…For women who want to lose weight, more time on social media relates to more disordered eating symptoms ( Eckler et al, 2016 ). Additionally, previous studies showed a positive relationship between experiencing negative emotions and eating disorder psychopathology in women ( Magel and Ranson, 2021 ).…”