Intolerance of Uncertainty and Eating Disorder Pathology in Anorexia Nervosa: Examining the Mediation Effect of Worry
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Due to the limited effectiveness of treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN), much research has \nbeen dedicated to finding transdiagnostic maintaining processes that may serve as targets for \nintervention. In light of this, the current study aims to investigate whether worry explains the \neffect of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) on eating disorder (ED) pathology in AN patients. \nDue to its unique relation with worry, the current study examined prospective IU (i.e., a \nsubtype of IU) specifically. The current cross-sectional study is part of a larger study \nconducted by a highly specialized ED treatment facility in the Netherlands, and included \nparticipants who were 18 years and older, female, and had an AN diagnosis (N = 178). \nParticipants completed self-report measures for prospective IU, worry and ED pathology at \nthe facility. Results of the regression analyses showed that IU is positively associated with ED \npathology, and that worry fully explains this relationship. However, the explanatory value of \nIU and worry for ED pathology scores was relatively low. Thus, their clinical relevance seems \ndubious. Nevertheless, the current study is the first to demonstrate an indirect association of \nIU and ED pathology in AN through worry, suggesting that (some) AN patients may benefit \nfrom intervention targeting such underlying transdiagnostic vulnerabilities.
Author: E.M.S. Dinkelberg
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3106783322