Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus.
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick.
Percept Mot Skills. 2020 Dec;127(6):1033-1050. doi: 10.1177/0031512520937569. Epub 2020 Jul 8.
Previous research suggests that individuals diagnosed with eating disorders (ED) may experience executive functioning deficits that help maintain their ED. Although this relationship is reported consistently in clinical samples, it is important to consider whether it holds for individuals with sub-clinical ED symptoms. One hundred eighty-eight university students participated in the present study examining the relationship between executive function (EF) and disordered eating behaviors. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, self-report questionnaires measuring atypical eating behaviors (EAT-26; EDI-3), and a self-report measure of EF (BRIEF-A). Correlational analyses demonstrated significant positive associations between ED behaviors and problems with emotional control, shifting, inhibition, and self-monitoring. Six hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted, using EF scores to predict scores on EAT-26 subscales (Dieting, Bulimia, Total ED Risk) and EDI-3 scales (Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, Risk Composite). In all regression analyses, BRIEF-A Emotional Control emerged as a significant predictor. As would be expected, EDI-3 Bulimia scores were also predicted by problems with inhibition. These results provide preliminary evidence of an association between non-clinical patterns of disordered eating and executive dysfunction, specifically including the ability to control one's emotions, suggesting that emotional control problems may help predict ED risk. Future research could examine how these factors predict the development of eating disorders.
先前的研究表明，被诊断患有饮食失调症（ED）的个体可能存在执行功能缺陷，这些缺陷有助于维持他们的 ED。尽管这种关系在临床样本中得到了一致的报告，但重要的是要考虑它是否适用于具有亚临床 ED 症状的个体。188 名大学生参与了本研究，该研究考察了执行功能（EF）与饮食失调行为之间的关系。参与者完成了人口统计学问卷、测量非典型饮食行为的自我报告问卷（EAT-26；EDI-3）以及自我报告的 EF 量表（BRIEF-A）。相关分析表明，ED 行为与情绪控制、转换、抑制和自我监控方面的问题存在显著正相关。进行了六项分层多元回归分析，使用 EF 分数预测 EAT-26 分量表（节食、贪食、总 ED 风险）和 EDI-3 量表（瘦身欲望、贪食、风险综合）的分数。在所有回归分析中，BRIEF-A 情绪控制均作为显著的预测因子出现。正如预期的那样，抑制方面的问题也可以预测 EDI-3 贪食症分数。这些结果初步证明了非临床模式的饮食失调与执行功能障碍之间存在关联，特别是包括控制自己情绪的能力，表明情绪控制问题可能有助于预测 ED 风险。未来的研究可以考察这些因素如何预测饮食失调的发展。
