Identification of affective and social reinforcement functions of driven exercise: Evidence from three samples
Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Driven exercise is a transdiagnostic maladaptive behavior, especially common in eating disorders (ED); however, its maintenance mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we examined the applicability of previously empirically-derived and validated reinforcement function models in explaining driven exercise maintenance in studies varying across developmental stages and clinical presentations (Study 1: N=279 adolescents/adults oversampled for EDs; Study 2: N=118 adolescent/adult inpatients with severe EDs; Study 3: N=52 adults oversampled for athletes and/or EDs). Results supported the utility of a four-function model (automatic positive/negative reinforcement [APR/ANR; increase/decrease negative affect], social positive/negative reinforcement [SPR/SNR; engage in/avoid interpersonal situations]) in explaining driven exercise. APR was most frequently endorsed, followed by ANR, SNR, and SPR in all studies. APR correlated with last-month driven exercise episodes across studies; associations between other functions and ED psychopathology varied between studies. Further, results suggested a separate control function could be considered in samples with more severe EDs.
Institutions: University of Regensburg, Virginia Commonwealth University, Harvard University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University of Southern California, University Medical Center Freiburg, Schön Klinik Roseneck, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of California, San Francisco
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4323567274