Objective
Vignette research on binge‐eating disorder (BED) stigma is limited and lacking methodological rigor. Existing studies lack control vignettes and typically present characters with overweight or obesity, introducing the confound of weight stigma. This study examined BED stigma while addressing these limitations.
Method
Participants (N = 421) were assigned to read one of six vignettes describing a woman with either BED or no BED as well as either no mention of weight, a recommended weight, or an obese weight. Four questionnaires examined personality stereotypes, emotional reactions to the character, desire for social distance from the character, and blame attributions.
Results
The character with BED was ascribed more negative personality characteristics and faced less positive emotional reactions than the character without BED, regardless of weight status. However, BED stigma did not emerge for social distance or blame attributions. Regarding weight stigma, evidence was limited and moderated by the presence of BED, suggesting no additive effect between BED stigma and weight stigma. In fact, blame attributions toward the character with obesity were reduced by the presence of BED.
Discussion
The results reveal that BED is a highly stigmatized eating disorder and suggest that weight stigma may be driven by assumptions about a person's eating behavior rather than their body size per se. Future studies must consider the relationship between BED stigma and weight stigma when assessing either form of stigma. The results also indicate new information to be integrated into anti‐weight stigma campaigns as well as policy and public health initiatives.
Objective
This study examined changes in relationship satisfaction during the COVID‐19 pandemic and the moderating roles of financial strain, perceived threat of COVID‐19, and dyadic coping.
Background
The systemic‐transactional model of dyadic coping posits that relationship satisfaction varies as a function of the stressors partners face and their engagement in dyadic coping.
Method
About 188 partnered adults completed questionnaires at three time points during the initial confinement period of the COVID‐19 pandemic and at a 20‐month follow‐up.
Results
Relationship satisfaction increased during the first confinement period and returned to its baseline level at the 20‐month follow‐up. Greater financial strain and perceived threat of COVID‐19 were associated with poorer relationship satisfaction over time. Dyadic coping buffered the negative impact of financial strain on relationship satisfaction during the initial confinement period, but not 20 months later.
Conclusions
Most individuals were resilient to the effect of pandemic stressors on relationship satisfaction. The buffering effect of dyadic coping was observed during the initial confinement period when access to support resources outside the family unit was curtailed.
Implications
Intervention efforts to promote dyadic coping and financial well‐being for couples may be especially helpful in the context of strict confinement measures.
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