title: Negative affect, interpersonal perception, and binge eating behavior: An experience sampling study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Etiological and maintenance models for disordered eating highlight the salience of negative affect and interpersonal dysfunction. This study employed a 14-day experience sampling procedure to assess the impact of negative affect and interpersonal perceptions on binge eating behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young adult women (N = 40) with recurrent binge eating and significant clinical impairment recorded their mood, interpersonal behavior, and eating behaviors at six stratified semirandom intervals daily through the use of personal digital assistants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although momentary negative affect was associated with binge eating behavior, average levels of negative affect over the experience sampling period were not, and interpersonal problems moderated the relationship between negative affect and binge eating. Interpersonal problems also intensified the association between momentary interpersonal perceptions and binge eating behavior. Lagged analyses indicated that previous levels of negative affect and interpersonal style also influence binge eating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings suggest there may be important differences in how dispositional versus momentary experiences of negative affect are associated with binge eating. Results also highlight the importance of interpersonal problems for understanding relationships among negative affect, interpersonal perception, and binge eating behavior. These results offer several possibilities for attending to affective and interpersonal functioning in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ambwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: Alyssa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
authors.forename: Aaron L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pincus
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009341:Negativism; D010465:Perception; D012008:Recurrence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: binge eating; experience sampling methodology; interpersonal circumplex; interpersonal functioning; negative affect