TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Information-Processing and Coping in Adolescent Females Diagnosed With an Eating Disorder
T2 - Toward a Greater Understanding of Control
AU - McFillin, Roger K.
AU - Cahn, Stacey C.
AU - Burks, Virginia Salzer
AU - Levine, Martha Peaslee
AU - Loney, Susan Lane
AU - Levine, Richard L.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - The objective of this study was to examine differences in social information-processing and coping strategies between adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder and asymptomatic peers. Adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder (n = 50) were compared to asymptomatic control participants (n = 59) on a measure of social information-processing. Participants were presented with 4 hypothetical, ambiguous social dilemmas in which the intent of a peer provocateur was unclear. Questions followed each dilemma assessing intent attributions, the participant's emotional reaction, the intensity of the emotion, and coping strategies. The participants in treatment for an eating disorder were significantly more likely to perceive hostile intent from a peer provocateur, reported a greater intensity of negative emotions, and identified a significantly greater number of avoidant coping strategies. Specifically, the eating disorder group identified significantly more intrapunitive avoidant coping strategies that reflect maladaptive and self-destructive means of coping with distressing events. Results indicate social cognitive processing biases and maladaptive coping strategies may be instrumental in perceived loss of control and influence the development/maintenance of eating disorders.
AB - The objective of this study was to examine differences in social information-processing and coping strategies between adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder and asymptomatic peers. Adolescent females in treatment for an eating disorder (n = 50) were compared to asymptomatic control participants (n = 59) on a measure of social information-processing. Participants were presented with 4 hypothetical, ambiguous social dilemmas in which the intent of a peer provocateur was unclear. Questions followed each dilemma assessing intent attributions, the participant's emotional reaction, the intensity of the emotion, and coping strategies. The participants in treatment for an eating disorder were significantly more likely to perceive hostile intent from a peer provocateur, reported a greater intensity of negative emotions, and identified a significantly greater number of avoidant coping strategies. Specifically, the eating disorder group identified significantly more intrapunitive avoidant coping strategies that reflect maladaptive and self-destructive means of coping with distressing events. Results indicate social cognitive processing biases and maladaptive coping strategies may be instrumental in perceived loss of control and influence the development/maintenance of eating disorders.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84855471696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84855471696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10640266.2012.635565
DO - 10.1080/10640266.2012.635565
M3 - Article
C2 - 22188059
AN - SCOPUS:84855471696
SN - 1064-0266
VL - 20
SP - 42
EP - 59
JO - Eating Disorders
JF - Eating Disorders
IS - 1
ER -