Abstract
The present study investigated whether mindfulness and different forms of maladaptive eating-related cognitions (i.e., fear
of gaining weight, belief that social approval is contingent on weight/appearance, and self-worth from feeling in control
of eating) separately and independently accounted for unique variance in psychological distress among adult females with elevated
eating pathology. Ethnically diverse nonclinical college females (N = 738) completed a web-based survey; data from 91 of these participants who endorsed elevated eating pathology were selected
for analyses. Mindfulness and fear of gaining weight, but not self-worth or perceived importance of appearance for gaining
social approval, accounted for unique variance in psychological distress after controlling for age, ethnicity and body mass
index (BMI). The present study suggests that not all forms of disordered eating cognitions are uniquely associated with psychological
distress among females with elevated eating pathology and that mindfulness is a useful concept for understanding psychological
distress in this group.
of gaining weight, belief that social approval is contingent on weight/appearance, and self-worth from feeling in control
of eating) separately and independently accounted for unique variance in psychological distress among adult females with elevated
eating pathology. Ethnically diverse nonclinical college females (N = 738) completed a web-based survey; data from 91 of these participants who endorsed elevated eating pathology were selected
for analyses. Mindfulness and fear of gaining weight, but not self-worth or perceived importance of appearance for gaining
social approval, accounted for unique variance in psychological distress after controlling for age, ethnicity and body mass
index (BMI). The present study suggests that not all forms of disordered eating cognitions are uniquely associated with psychological
distress among females with elevated eating pathology and that mindfulness is a useful concept for understanding psychological
distress in this group.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s12671-012-0087-4
- Authors
- Akihiko Masuda, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA
- Mary L. Hill, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA
- Erin B. Tone, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, USA
- Journal Mindfulness
- Online ISSN 1868-8535
- Print ISSN 1868-8527