Abstract
Previous studies have shown an association between eating disorder symptoms and both negative affect and avoidance-based emotion
regulation strategies among women and men. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the cognitive
emotion regulation strategy of thought suppression and eating disorder symptoms in the understudied population of men. Two-hundred
ninety-six undergraduate men completed a series of questionnaires including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the
White Bear Suppression Inventory, and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Results supported an association between
chronic thought suppression and both global and specific eating disorder symptoms (shape concern, weight concern, eating concern,
and, to a lesser extent, restraint) among men. Further, thought suppression was found to fully mediate the relationships between
negative affect and both global eating disorder symptoms and the specific eating disorder symptom of shape concern, and to
partially mediate the relationship between negative affect and the eating disorder symptoms of eating and weight concerns.
These findings suggest that chronic efforts to suppress unpleasant or unwanted thoughts may be one avoidance strategy that
underlies the relationship between the experience of negative affect and eating disorder symptoms in men.
regulation strategies among women and men. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the cognitive
emotion regulation strategy of thought suppression and eating disorder symptoms in the understudied population of men. Two-hundred
ninety-six undergraduate men completed a series of questionnaires including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the
White Bear Suppression Inventory, and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Results supported an association between
chronic thought suppression and both global and specific eating disorder symptoms (shape concern, weight concern, eating concern,
and, to a lesser extent, restraint) among men. Further, thought suppression was found to fully mediate the relationships between
negative affect and both global eating disorder symptoms and the specific eating disorder symptom of shape concern, and to
partially mediate the relationship between negative affect and the eating disorder symptoms of eating and weight concerns.
These findings suggest that chronic efforts to suppress unpleasant or unwanted thoughts may be one avoidance strategy that
underlies the relationship between the experience of negative affect and eating disorder symptoms in men.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9403-x
- Authors
- Jason M. Lavender, Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, SS399, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Drew A. Anderson, Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, SS399, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Kim L. Gratz, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916