Negative Affect Mediates the Relationship Between Interpersonal Problems and Binge‐Eating Disorder Symptoms and Psychopathology in a Clinical Sample: A Test of the Interpersonal Model

Abstract

This study evaluated the validity of the interpersonal model of binge-eating disorder (BED) psychopathology in a clinical sample of women with BED. Data from a cross-sectional sample of 255 women with BED were examined for the direct effects of interpersonal problems on BED symptoms and psychopathology, and indirect effects mediated by negative affect. Structural equation modelling analyses demonstrated that higher levels of interpersonal problems were associated with greater negative affect, and greater negative affect was associated with higher frequency of BED symptoms and psychopathology. There was a significant indirect effect of interpersonal problems on BED symptoms and psychopathology mediated through negative affect. Interpersonal problems may lead to greater BED symptoms and psychopathology, and this relationship may be partially explained by elevated negative affect. The results of the study are the first to provide support for the interpersonal model of BED symptoms and psychopathology in a clinical sample of women.

Socializing problems and low self‐esteem enhance interpersonal models of eating disorders: Evidence from a clinical sample

“…The lack of a direct relationship between socializing problems and eating disorder symptoms in the present study was not predicted by the interpersonal models but is consistent with previous clinical and nonclinical research (Ambwani et al, 2015;Ansell et al, 2012;Elliot et al, 2010;Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015, Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015Ranzenhofer et al, 2014;Steiger et al, 1999;Tasca et al, 2011). One clinical study (Dakanalis et al, 2015) found a direct association between interpersonal problems and eating disorder symptoms that the relationship between socializing problems and eating disorder symptoms is indirect and reciprocal (Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015),…”

“…Several community and clinical studies support the validity of the interpersonal model of binge eating for individuals who endorse binge eating or loss of control over eating (Ansell et al, 2012;Elliot et al, 2010;Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015;Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015). Several community and clinical studies support the validity of the interpersonal model of binge eating for individuals who endorse binge eating or loss of control over eating (Ansell et al, 2012;Elliot et al, 2010;Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015;Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015).…”

“…Several community and clinical studies support the validity of the interpersonal model of binge eating for individuals who endorse binge eating or loss of control over eating (Ansell et al, 2012;Elliot et al, 2010;Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015;Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015). Several clinical studies report only an indirect relationship between interpersonal problems and eating disorder symptoms via low self-esteem (Steiger, Guavin, Jabalpurwala, S eguin, & Stotland, 1999;Tasca et al, 2011) and negative affect (Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015;Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015). Several clinical studies report only an indirect relationship between interpersonal problems and eating disorder symptoms via low self-esteem (Steiger, Guavin, Jabalpurwala, S eguin, & Stotland, 1999;Tasca et al, 2011) and negative affect (Ivanova, Tasca, Hammond, et al, 2015;Ivanova, Tasca, Proulx, et al, 2015).…”

Examination of the interpersonal model of loss of control eating in the laboratory

“…While the interpersonal model has been widely used to explain binge eating in adults [e.g., 28, 29, 40–43], and interpersonal psychotherapy has been adapted as an efficacious treatment for adult binge eating disorder [19, 44], only two studies have simultaneously evaluated all components of the interpersonal model of LOC eating in youth [27, 30]. The first study used structural equation modeling in a large sample of children and adolescents and found that parent-reported social problems were positively associated with children’s reported presence of LOC eating.…”

An experimental analysis of the affect regulation model of binge eating

“…First, these studies have utilized vignettes or films to induce negative mood, which may not closely resemble the real-life stressors associated with binge eating. Research suggests that interpersonal stressors are especially powerful triggers for binge eating in the natural environment (Goldschmidt, Wonderlich, et al, 2014; Ivanova et al, 2015). Therefore, a mood induction involving a real-time interpersonal stressor could provide a more ecologically-valid negative affect manipulation.…”