Media Exposure and Associated Stress Contribute to Eating Pathology in Women with Anorexia Nervosa: Daily and Momentary Associations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-29-2015

Publication Title

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume

46

Issue

6

First page number:

617

Last page number:

621

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether media exposure and media‐induced stress contributed to eating disorder behaviors immediately and over the course of a day in women with anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: Women with AN (N = 118) completed a 2‐week ecological momentary assessment protocol during which they reported on exposure to food, shape, or weight‐related media, associated stress, and eating behaviors. Results: Food, weight, or shape‐related media exposure alone did not predict more frequent daily eating disorder behaviors. However, stress associated with media exposure was prospectively associated with a greater likelihood of binge eating and vomiting at the next assessment point. In addition, media‐induced stress increased the probability of restrictive eating and fluid intake, vomiting, and laxative abuse across the day. Discussion: Media‐induced stress may contribute to increased eating disorder behaviors in women with AN, as women who saw a media image and reported this experience as stressful were more likely to engage in momentary binge eating or vomiting. Reducing stress associated with viewing media images could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention with disordered eating. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:617–621).

Disciplines

Social Psychology

Language

English

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