Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
7-9-2021
Year of Publication
2021
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Psychology
Advisor
Dr. Gregory T. Smith
Abstract
Affective distress may influence eating disorder behaviors in multiple ways. Affective lability refers to the tendency to experience frequent and striking fluctuations in mood. There is considerable evidence that it predicts eating disorder symptoms. Further, alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying and describing feelings and an externally oriented thinking style. Alexithymia has also been implicated in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. To date, these risk factors have been studied separately. Given the evidence that both alexithymia and affective lability are affective components associated with eating disordered behaviors, it may be important to examine possible relationships among alexithymia, affective lability, binge eating, and purging. Therefore, I investigated possible moderation and mediation effects longitudinally in 587 college students. Specifically, I tested the presence of joint effects of the two risk factors on binge eating and purging, such that individuals that experience frequent and rapid changes in mood may be more likely to binge eat or purge if they also have a difficult time identifying their emotions. Additionally, I examined the viability of the following mediational processes: that affective lability predicts increases alexithymia, which in turn predicts increases in binge eating and in purging; and that alexithymia predicts increases in affective lability, which in turn predicts increases in binge eating and in purging. Results supported my hypothesis the alexithymia predicts increases in affective lability, which in turn predicts increases in purging. Results were not consistent with the other mediational processes. Moreover, none of the moderation hypotheses were supported. The implications of these results are discussed.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.280
Funding Information
This study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), F31AA027960 in 2019.
Recommended Citation
Ortiz, Anna Marie Lilia, "THE ROLE OF ALEXITHYMIA AND AFFECTIVE LABILITY IN DISORDERED EATING BEHAVIORS" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Psychology. 196.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/psychology_etds/196
Errata pages
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons
