Symposia
Transdiagnostic
Sarah C. Dolan, M.A.
Graduate Student
Hofstra University
Brooklyn, New York
Zoe Stout, M.A.
Graduate student
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
Ayla N. Gioia, M.A.
Graduate Student
Hofstra University
Albertson, New York
Ashley Kwak, --
Undergraduate
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
Clare Wieland, -
Undergraduate
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
Elisabeth Kac, -
Undergraduate
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
Cate Morales, M.A.
PhD Student
Hofstra University
Brooklyn, New York
Erin E. Reilly, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of California San Francisco
San Fransisco, California
Background: Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic feature of psychopathology observed in a wide range of psychiatric illnesses, including eating disorders (EDs). However, previous literature on how RNT may confer risk for disordered eating has focused on general RNT rather than thoughts about weight and shape specifically, which may have particular relevance in EDs. The present study sought to demonstrate the feasibility of an experimental RNT induction focused specifically on thoughts about weight and shape in a sample of undergraduate women.
Methods: Undergraduate women (N=44) meeting established clinical cutoffs for disordered eating symptoms were randomly assigned to complete an experimental task via Zoom to induce either distraction or rumination about shape and weight for approximately 10 minutes. Before and after the induction, participants provided state ratings of RNT and rated how much they felt anxious, nervous, tense, upset, depressed, and sad using a VAS scale. Participants also completed self-report measures assessing social appearance anxiety, RNT, ED symptoms, and level of concentration during the task.
Results: Repeated-measures ANCOVAs were used to assess the effects of condition (ruminate vs. distract) on ratings of RNT and negative affect before and after the induction. Social appearance anxiety, perseverative thought, concentration, and ED symptoms were entered as covariates. There was a significant interaction of Time (pre-induction vs. post-induction) x Condition on ratings of state RNT, F(1, 34) = 6.98, p = .01. There were also significant interaction effects of Time x Condition on participants’ ratings of feeling tense, F(1, 34) = 8.31, p = .01; depressed, F(1, 34) = 6.72, p = .01; anxious, F(1, 34) = 5.32, p = .03; and upset, F(1, 34) = 5.91, p = .02. No covariates had a significant effect in any of the models.
Conclusions: Compared to individuals in the distraction condition, participants who engaged in appearance-specific rumination reported significant increases in state RNT, which offers preliminary evidence for the feasibility and validity of this appearance-related RNT induction delivered via Zoom. Furthermore, our findings indicate that appearance-related RNT can elicit negative affect in individuals with elevated ED symptoms. Future research should seek to replicate these findings in a clinical ED sample and further clarify how state and trait appearance-related RNT may affect specific ED symptoms.