title: Immediate Effects of Body Checking Behaviour on Negative and Positive Emotions in Women with Eating Disorders: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive-behavioural models of eating disorders state that body checking arises in response to negative emotions in order to reduce the aversive emotional state and is therefore negatively reinforced. This study empirically tests this assumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  For a seven-day period, women with eating disorders (n = 26) and healthy controls (n = 29) were provided with a handheld computer for assessing occurring body checking strategies as well as negative and positive emotions. Serving as control condition, randomized computer-emitted acoustic signals prompted reports on body checking and emotions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the intensity of negative emotions before body checking and in control situations across groups. However, from pre- to post-body checking, an increase in negative emotions was found. This effect was more pronounced in women with eating disorders compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are contradictory to the assumptions of the cognitive-behavioural model, as body checking does not seem to reduce negative emotions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Almut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosfelder
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Silja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vocks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: body checking behaviour; ecological momentary assessment; negative and positive emotions