Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America; Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States of America.
Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America.
Eat Behav. 2021 Apr;41:101508. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101508. Epub 2021 Apr 20.
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) individuals generally experience eating disorders at higher rates than heterosexual individuals. While there is limited research examining why LGB individuals experience higher levels of eating pathology, emotion regulation (ER) deficits have been associated with higher rates of other forms of psychopathology in this population. The present study examined the impact of specific ER deficits on the relationship between LGB status and eating pathology. We hypothesized that 1) LGB individuals would report higher levels of ER deficits, and 2) ER deficits would mediate the relationship between LGB status and eating pathology.
Participants were 195 LGB and 193 heterosexual adults recruited via mTurk who completed self-report measures of eating pathology and ER deficits.
One-way ANCOVA analyses revealed that LGB individuals reported higher levels of ER deficits compared to heterosexuals for all DERS subscales except for DERS-Awareness. Nearly all DERS subscales (DERS-Nonacceptance, DERS-Goals, DERS-Strategies, DERS-Impulse) significantly mediated the relationship between LGB status and eating pathology.
Consistent with our hypotheses, LGB individuals reported higher levels of ER deficits compared to heterosexuals and specific ER deficits partially accounted for the relationship between LGB status and eating pathology. Future research should utilize longitudinal designs to examine whether the ER deficits identified in the present study prospectively predict eating pathology. Considering the immense mental health burden placed on the LGB community, it is essential that research continue to identify the unique needs of LGB individuals to more effectively treat and prevent psychopathology, including eating disorders, in this population.
同性恋、双性恋和异性恋（LGB）个体通常比异性恋个体更容易出现饮食障碍。虽然关于为什么 LGB 个体经历更高水平的饮食病理学的研究有限，但情绪调节（ER）缺陷与该群体中其他形式的精神病理学的更高发生率有关。本研究探讨了特定的 ER 缺陷对 LGB 身份与饮食病理学之间关系的影响。我们假设 1）LGB 个体报告的 ER 缺陷水平更高，2）ER 缺陷将调节 LGB 身份和饮食病理学之间的关系。
通过 mTurk 招募了 195 名 LGB 和 193 名异性恋成年人参与者，他们完成了饮食病理学和 ER 缺陷的自我报告测量。
单因素方差分析显示，与异性恋者相比，LGB 个体报告的 ER 缺陷水平在除 DERS 意识外的所有 DERS 分量表上均较高。几乎所有的 DERS 分量表（DERS-不接受、DERS-目标、DERS-策略、DERS-冲动）都显著中介了 LGB 身份和饮食病理学之间的关系。
与我们的假设一致，与异性恋者相比，LGB 个体报告的 ER 缺陷水平较高，特定的 ER 缺陷部分解释了 LGB 身份和饮食病理学之间的关系。未来的研究应该利用纵向设计来检验本研究中确定的 ER 缺陷是否可以前瞻性地预测饮食病理学。考虑到 LGB 群体承受着巨大的心理健康负担，继续确定 LGB 个体的独特需求对于更有效地治疗和预防该群体中的精神病理学，包括饮食障碍，至关重要。
