title: Initial test of an emotional avoidance model of restriction in anorexia nervosa using ecological momentary assessment.
abstract: It has been hypothesized that restrictive eating allows individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) to avoid contact with negative emotions; however, this presumption has not been directly tested. In this study, we conducted an initial investigation examining whether restrictive eating serves an emotional avoidance function among individuals with AN. Females with AN (n = 118) reported on negative and positive affect, anxiety/tension, and eating behaviors at multiple time points daily over a 2-week period using ecological momentary assessment methodology. Affective patterns were compared using generalized estimating equation models between days in which participants reported either: (1) relatively high restriction (without binge eating); (2) relatively low restriction (without binge eating); (3) binge eating; or (4) no restriction or binge eating. We hypothesized that, if restriction were functioning to avoid negative affect, average negative affect and anxiety/tension, as well as average negative and positive affect lability, would be lower and average positive affect would be higher on days characterized by high levels of restriction compared to other eating patterns. Contrary to hypotheses: (1) average negative affect, anxiety/tension, and positive affect were not significantly different between days characterized by high restriction and those characterized by low or no restriction; (2) Negative affect and anxiety/tension lability were higher on days characterized by high restriction compared to no restriction or binge eating days; (3) Anxiety/tension lability was higher on days characterized by high versus low levels of restriction. This patterns of findings does not support an avoidance model of restrictive eating for individuals with AN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA. Electronic address: ahaynos@unr.edu.
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Haynos
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Scott G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lavender
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wonderlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota School of Medicine and the Emily Program, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Carol B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota School of Medicine and the Emily Program, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Grange
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Avoidance; Emotion regulation; Restrictive eating