The Restraint Pathway to Binge Eating: Roles of Preoccupation and Appetite Awareness Open Access

Blewis, Jenna Nicole (2012)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/6m311q10n?locale=en
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Abstract

The Restraint Pathway to Binge Eating: Roles of Preoccupation and Appetite Awareness

Previous investigations of the dietary restraint pathway have yielded incongruent findings regarding the association between dieting and binge eating, but few studies have explored the mechanisms involved in this complex pathway. Theory and research implicate preoccupying thoughts about food and poor awareness of hunger and fullness signals as potential mediators of the restraint pathway to binge eating. Accordingly, this study examined whether preoccupation with food and appetite awareness mediated the relationship between dieting and binge eating. Ninety college-aged women completed self-report measures assessing dietary restraint, preoccupation with food, appetite awareness, and binge eating. Results from a series of regression analyses indicated that preoccupation with food and appetite awareness mediated the relationship between dietary restraint and binge eating. In addition, exploratory analyses revealed that preoccupation with food mediated the effects of dietary restraint on appetite awareness, though appetite awareness did not mediate the relationship between preoccupation and restraint. These findings suggest that the dieter's growing obsession or preoccupation with thoughts about food may result in limited resources to attend to bodily signals, leading to poorer appetite awareness and less mindful eating. Future research should attempt to investigate these relationships longitudinally to gain a better understanding of the development of this pathway.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................1

RESEARCH ON DIETING AND BINGING .........................................................3
THEORETICAL ACCOUNTS OF THE RESTRAINT MODEL .....................................6
PREOCCUPATION WITH FOOD AS AN HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR .......................8
APPETITE AWARENESS AS AN HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR ................................9
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESES ................................................11
METHOD ...............................................................................................12
PARTICIPANTS ........................................................................................13
PROCEDURE ...........................................................................................14
MEASURES .............................................................................................14
STATISTICAL ANALYSES ............................................................................16
RESULTS ...............................................................................................17
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE VARIABLES ....................................................17
MEDIATIONAL ANALYSES ...........................................................................18
DISCUSSION ..........................................................................................21
INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS ...................................................................21
LIMITATIONS ...........................................................................................23
CONCLUSION ...........................................................................................25
REFERENCES ..........................................................................................26


LIST OF TABLES

1. SUMMARY OF INTERCORRELATIONS, MEANS, AND STANDARD DEVIATIONS

FOR SCORES ON THE DIS, PEWS FOOD/EATING SCALE, CAS, AND BES……................33

2. TESTS OF PREOCCUPATION WITH FOOD AS HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR OF THE

EFFECTS OF DIETARY RESTRAINT ON BINGE EATING………………....….…..................……34

3. TESTS OF APPETITE AWARENESS AS HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR OF THE

EFFECTS OF DIETARY RESTRAINT ON BINGE EATING…………..…...……..................………35

4. TESTS OF PREOCCUPATION WITH FOOD AS HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR OF THE

EFFECTS OF DIETARY RESTRAINT ON APPETITE AWARENESS..………..............…………...36

5. TESTS OF APPETITE AWARENESS AS HYPOTHESIZED MEDIATOR OF THE

EFFECTS OF DIETARY RESTRAINT ON PREOCCUPATION WITH FOOD…………….….…….…...37


LIST OF FIGURES

1. GRAPHICAL MODEL OF PREOCCUPATION WITH FOOD AS A HYPOTHESIZED

MEDIATOR OF THE RESTRAINT PATHWAY TO BINGE EATING………………......................8

2. GRAPHICAL MODEL OF APPETITE AWARENESS AS A HYPOTHESIZED

MEDIATOR OF THE RESTRAINT PATHWAY TO BINGE EATING……………....................….10

3. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS

IN MODEL 1 (ON THE BASIS OF BARON & KENNY, 1986).……………………………………...…..38

4. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS

IN MODEL 2 (ON THE BASIS OF BARON & KENNY, 1986).……………………………………….....39

5. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS

IN MODEL 3 (ON THE BASIS OF BARON & KENNY, 1986).…………………………………...……..40

6. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS

IN MODEL 4 (ON THE BASIS OF BARON & KENNY, 1986).…………………………...……………..41

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