This study examined whether patterns of eating‐disorder (ED) psychopathology differed by gender across
We tested whether ED psychopathology differed across
Among females with BN,
Results demonstrate that
The current study tested whether people with and without eating disorders (EDs) varied in their implicit attitudes toward ED‐relevant stimuli. Additionally, the study tested whether implicit evaluations of ED‐relevant stimuli predicted ED symptoms and behaviors over a 4‐week interval.
Participants were people without EDs (
Contrary to predictions, the anorexia nervosa (AN) group did not differ from the no ED group on implicit attitudes toward ED‐symptom stimuli, and the bulimia nervosa (BN) group had less positive implicit attitudes toward ED‐symptom stimuli relative to the no ED group. In line with predictions, people with AN and BN had more negative implicit attitudes toward average body and eating stimuli relative to the no ED group. In addition, among the ED group more negative implicit attitudes toward eating stimuli predicted ED symptoms and behaviors 4 weeks later, over and above baseline ED symptoms and behaviors.
Taken together, implicit evaluations of eating stimuli differentiated people with AN and BN from people without EDs and longitudinally predicted ED symptoms and behaviors. Interventions that increase implicit liking of eating‐related stimuli may reduce ED behaviors.
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10053561
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- International Journal of Eating Disorders
- Volume:
- 51
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0276-3478
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 343-351
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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