1,720,980 research outputs found
Perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms in adolescents and young adults: the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies
Full text linkEating disturbances, either clinical or subclinical, are highly prevalent in western countries (Makino, Tsuboi, & Dennerstein, 2004) and their prevalence have been increasing in the last 50 years, especially among adolescents. Full blown eating disorders are severe conditions that are very difficult to treat (Treasure, Cardi, Leppanen, & Turton, 2015). The scientific and clinical understanding of these disorders has been progressing slowly, but we know several risk factors. Individuals with disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours typically report problematic perfectionistic standards and intense evaluative concerns, as well as maladaptive emotional processes. The present dissertation aims to examine the associations between perfectionistic aspects, emotion regulation strategies and disturbed eating in two samples representative of two distinct developmental ages. In the first chapter, the construct of perfectionism and its clinical relevance were described and discussed by summarizing studies in scientific literature focused on the conceptualization, measurement and psychological implications of the construct. In the second chapter, theoretical models assessing the relationship between perfectionistic dimensions and eating symptoms were discussed. In the third chapter, principal theories on emotion regulation strategies were explained and results of a cross-sectional investigation examining the specific relationships among perfectionistic facets, emotion regulation strategies and eating symptoms reported by two samples of adolescents and young adults were observed. In particular, the mediation role of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation in explaining the associations between perfectionistic dimensions and eating pathology was examined. Finally, in the fourth chapter, results obtained from the study conducted were discussed
Adult with Specific Learning Disorders: Perfectionism, Emotional Regulation and Internalizing Problems. A Systematic Review
No full textPerfectionism and eating behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic
Full text linkThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a massive global health crisis leading to different reactions in people. Those reactions may be adaptive or not depending on situational or psychological processes. Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors are likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic through multiple pathways as suggested by Rodgers et al. (2020). Among the psychological variables that may have increased dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviors as a consequence of the social distancing and isolation, we looked at perfectionism. Perfectionism is a well-recognized risk and maintaining factor of eating-related symptoms and interact with stress increasing the probability of dysfunctional reactions (e.g., Wang and Li, 2017). The present study investigated the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and eating behaviors by considering the mediating role of psychological distress. Data were collected from two countries (Italy and Spain) by means of an online survey. The samples included 465 (63.4% female) participants from Italy and 352 (68.5% female) from Spain. Participants completed the short form of the Hewitt and Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Lombardo et al., 2021) to assess self-oriented, other-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism, as well as the short form of Three Factors Eating Questionnaire (Karlsson et al., 2000) and the Italian version of Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (Bottesi et al., 2015), respectively used to assess restrictive, emotional and uncontrolled eating on one hand, and depression, anxiety and stress on the other. Multigroup analysis was performed to test the hypothesized model. Results showed that other-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism were indirectly related to most of the dysfunctional eating aspects through the mediation of psychological distress, and the pattern obtained was consistent in both countries. These findings evidence that the psychological distress potentially related to the COVID-19 disease mediates the negative impact of interpersonal perfectionism and the tendency to eat in response to negative emotions
Effects of pre-sleep cognitive intrusions on subjective sleep and next-day cognitive performance in insomnia
Full text linkPre-sleep cognitive intrusions about next-day activities, or proprioceptive and environmental stimuli are thought to trigger insomnia in neurocognitive models. Recent research showed that intrusive cognitions at bedtime may interact with sleep in influencing next-day emotional functioning; their effects on cognitive functioning, however, is largely unknown. We tested the effects of pre-sleep cognitive intrusions on subjective sleep and next-day cognitive performance in 80 participants, either with chronic insomnia or good sleepers. Pre-sleep intrusions were inspected using a validated questionnaire and sleep was assessed with a sleep diary. Cognitive functioning the following morning was measured using task switching paradigm assessing executive functions. Structural equation modelling with manifest variables (i.e., path analysis) shows that pre-sleep cognitive intrusions predicted increased sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset, and lowered sleep efficiency. Moreover, task switching accuracy was independently predicted by pre-sleep cognitive intrusions in the previous night in those with insomnia but not in controls, beyond the effects of trait anxiety, task switching components, and previous night's sleep. Findings confirm detrimental effects of pre-sleep intrusions on sleep continuity and suggest the presence of links between pre-sleep conscious activity and next-day executive performance in patients with insomnia, with the need to better elucidate potential mediators
The relationship between perfectionism and eating‐related symptoms in adolescents: A systematic review
No full textThe clinical significance of two major aspects of perfectionism, perfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC), in eating disorders (EDs) symptoms was well-established among adults. However, no systematic review has assessed evidence examining associations between both unidimensional and multidimensional perfectionism and EDs in early and middle adolescence. For this aim, three online databases (PsycINFO, Medline and PsycArticle) were searched for articles published until January 2019, and observational studies were considered. Study quality was systematically appraised, and results were summarized using a narrative synthesis approach. Fifty-one cross-sectional and 28 longitudinal studies were included. Most studies supported the relationship between perfectionism and EDs, with the majority adopting a unidimensional approach for assessing perfectionism. Among studies that employed multidimensional measures of perfectionism, the majority (n = 11) of evidence supported the relationship between eating symptoms and PC, while fewer (n = 5) studies provided significant unique associations with PS. These findings are consistent with the body of research suggesting the strength of the relationship between PC and EDs was greater than between PS and EDs. It was recommended that preventive interventions should be primarily focused on reducing self-critical perfectionism, since it resulted to be the most relevant perfectionistic dimension in the development of eating symptoms in adolescents
Body shaming and internalized weight bias as potential precursors of eating disorders in adolescents
Full text linkIntroduction: Body shaming (BS) is a growing phenomenon within the school context, especially among adolescents. Recently, it has been described as an unrepeated act in which a person expresses unsolicited, mostly negative comments about an individual's body. The targeted person perceives these comments as negative, offensive or body shame-inducing. Empirical evidence also suggests that body weight is the most common reason that youths are teased and bullied. Indeed, weight stigma, described as bias or discriminatory behaviors, attitudes, feelings, and thinking about individuals, because of their weight, can lead to weight-based discrimination and victimization. Preliminary evidence suggests that BS and weight stigma have negative effects on psychological health both in the short and long term. In the delicate stage of adolescence development and pubertal maturation, BS experiences can be highly prevalent and it can lead to adverse outcomes such as eating disorders (ED). However, prevalence data in the Italian context are still lacking. Methods: The study aims to estimate weight-related BS perceived by different sources (i.e., peers and family members) and their associations with public and internalized weight bias, body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction, and ED symptoms. A sample of 919 high school students (Mage = 15.97, SD = 1.58; 57.1% boys) completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing these variables. Results: One in four students reported experiences of weight-related BS by peers or family members. A total of 37% reported having at least one BS experience in a lifetime. Higher scores of ED symptoms, body dissatisfaction, and weight bias were reported by adolescents who experienced BS, especially females. Among overweight participants, results showed that internalized weight bias partially mediated the relationship between BS by family members and ED symptoms and fully mediated the relationship between BS by peers and ED symptoms, after controlling for age, sex and BMI. Discussion: These findings, despite their cross-sectional nature, add an important contribution to the creation of quantitative empirical evidence on the phenomenon of BS. Its role in explaining eating disorders, both alone and with the mediation of internalized weight stigma has been first proved and needs to be confirmed by longitudinal results
The Short Forms of the Hewitt and Flett’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: Which Factor Structure Better Fits Italian Data?
No full textOne of the most used instruments to assess perfectionism is Hewitt and Flett's Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (HFMPS). This article reports result of two studies aimed at evaluating and comparing two short HFMPS versions provided by literature in Italian samples. In Study 1, two previously proposed short forms–Cox and colleagues' and Hewitt and colleagues'–were compared in terms of factor structure and concurrent validity in a community sample of 324 participants. In Study 2, validity and reliability of the two short scales in 102 university students and 58 patients with a primary diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder were examined. Results revealed mixed findings concerning which of the two short form should be preferred
A School-Based Intervention Program to Reduce Weight Stigma in Adolescents
No full textBackground/Objectives: Weight-based stigma represents a pervasive psychosocial challenge affecting youth worldwide, with significant implications for mental and physical health. Although school-based interventions have been suggested as effective strategies to reduce weight bias, evidence regarding their content and efficacy in real-world educational contexts remains limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention designed to reduce internalized weight stigma among Italian adolescents. Methods: A total of 539 secondary school students (Mage = 15.91 years; SD = 1.38; 51.5% males) from 10 schools in Italy were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (61.2%, n = 330) receiving the program or a minimal intervention control group (38.8%, n = 209). The intervention integrated psychoeducational modules and activities based on cognitive dissonance theory to address maladaptive weight-related attitudes and associated psychopathological outcomes. Pre- and post-intervention assessments evaluated internalized weight bias and body dissatisfaction in both groups. Results: A significant reduction in internalized weight bias was observed among students perceiving themselves as overweight following the intervention. Additionally, a marginally significant decrease in body dissatisfaction was reported in the intervention group from pre- to post-intervention. No comparable changes were found in the control group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that incorporating cognitive dissonance-based psychoeducational content within school-based programs may be a promising approach for reducing internalized weight stigma in adolescents. Further research is warranted to refine intervention strategies, explore the mechanisms underlying the observed effects, and assess the scalability and long-term impact of such initiatives in school settings
Associations between orthorexia, disordered eating, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
No full textObjective:
Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is defined as an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating, focusing on concerns regarding food quality and composition. Currently, there is still a lack of consensus about a clear definition of the construct. Specifically, it has yet to be clarified whether ON pertains to eating disorders (EDs) or obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) spectrum. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis addressing the magnitude of the association between these groups of symptoms.
Method:
PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched from inception up to February 2021. Data from individual studies were pooled using a random-effects model. Pearson's r was used as the effect size metric. Subgroup analyses were conducted exploring the role of ON-related instruments, body mass index, study quality, and cultural context.
Results:
Thirty-six studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Random-effects model yielded a moderate association between ON and EDs symptoms with an overall effect size of r = .36 (p < .001; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30–0.43). On the other hand, the results showed a small association between ON and OCD symptoms with a mean effect size of r = .21 (p < .001; 95% CI = 0.15–0.27).
Discussion:
Meta-analytic findings showed that ON symptoms are more associated to EDs compared to OCD. Despite the similarities, the nonhigh magnitude of the pooled correlations suggests that ON might be different from pre-existing EDs and OCD. Hence, ON might be treated as a stand-alone ED and included as an emerging syndrome in the DSM classification
Sleep duration and obesity in adulthood: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textShort and long sleep duration have been associated with risk of obesity in children and adolescents. Evidence in adults is more mixed, with biological and psychosocial factors underlying these relationships mostly unknown. This review aimed at qualitatively and quantitatively summarizing previous studies on sleep duration as a predictor of obesity in adults in order to provide an update of the state of art in this field and clarify these relationships. Odds ratios at 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were estimated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity of effects distribution and publication bias were tested. Twelve articles were selected for short sleep (n = 154,936) and eight for long sleep duration (n = 152,192). Results indicated that short sleep duration (OR: 1.412; 95% CI: 1.177-1.694) was significantly associated with the risk of future obesity, and that long sleep duration (OR: 0.995; 95% CI: 0.889-1.114) was not associated. Heterogeneity was high and lowered to non-significant values when considering gender and extremes of short/long sleep duration. Results seem to confirm a potential role of short sleep duration in predicting but results on long sleep are still mixed. Future investigations on potential mediators of such relationships are needed
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