title: Social information-processing and coping in adolescent females diagnosed with an eating disorder: toward a greater understanding of control.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine differences in social information-processing and coping strategies between adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder and asymptomatic peers. Adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder (n = 50) were compared to asymptomatic control participants (n = 59) on a measure of social information-processing. Participants were presented with 4 hypothetical, ambiguous social dilemmas in which the intent of a peer provocateur was unclear. Questions followed each dilemma assessing intent attributions, the participant's emotional reaction, the intensity of the emotion, and coping strategies. The participants in treatment for an eating disorder were significantly more likely to perceive hostile intent from a peer provocateur, reported a greater intensity of negative emotions, and identified a significantly greater number of avoidant coping strategies. Specifically, the eating disorder group identified significantly more intrapunitive avoidant coping strategies that reflect maladaptive and self-destructive means of coping with distressing events. Results indicate social cognitive processing biases and maladaptive coping strategies may be instrumental in perceived loss of control and influence the development/maintenance of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Dr.McFillin@CenterForIBH.com
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: McFillin
authors.forename: Stacey C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cahn
authors.forename: Virginia Salzer
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Burks
authors.forename: Martha Peaslee
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Susan Lane
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Loney
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D004644:Emotions; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception