How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa
Abstract Background Inherent to anorexia nervosa are repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. The relation between these cognitive processes and weight and shape conc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00523-4 |
| _version_ | 1797935505185177600 |
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| author | Jojanneke M. Bijsterbosch Anouk Keizer Paul A. Boelen Femke van den Brink Unna N. Danner Lot C. Sternheim |
| author_facet | Jojanneke M. Bijsterbosch Anouk Keizer Paul A. Boelen Femke van den Brink Unna N. Danner Lot C. Sternheim |
| author_sort | Jojanneke M. Bijsterbosch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Inherent to anorexia nervosa are repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. The relation between these cognitive processes and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study investigated associations between prospective (desire for predictability) and inhibitory (uncertainty paralysis) intolerance of uncertainty, and weight and shape concerns and the mediating role of worry in these associations. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed questionnaires measuring the variables of interest. A mediation model with worry as a mediator between inhibitory and prospective intolerance of uncertainty and weight and shape concerns was tested. Results A total and direct effect of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty on weight and shape concerns was found. Worry did not mediate this relation. Conclusions These results confirm the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Plain English summary Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa often experience repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. Intolerance of uncertainty is defined as the incapacity to tolerate uncertainty and is often divided into two components; prospective intolerance of uncertainty (desire for predictability) and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty (uncertainty paralysis). The relation between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study aims to investigate study relations between prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty, worry, and weight and shape concerns. A total of 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed three questionnaires, measuring prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty worry, and weight and shape concerns, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:15:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed0df6d6917042a98d5aa38542548265 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:15:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed0df6d6917042a98d5aa385425482652023-02-02T09:05:32ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742021-12-019111010.1186/s40337-021-00523-4How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosaJojanneke M. Bijsterbosch0Anouk Keizer1Paul A. Boelen2Femke van den Brink3Unna N. Danner4Lot C. Sternheim5Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht UniversityAbstract Background Inherent to anorexia nervosa are repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. The relation between these cognitive processes and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study investigated associations between prospective (desire for predictability) and inhibitory (uncertainty paralysis) intolerance of uncertainty, and weight and shape concerns and the mediating role of worry in these associations. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed questionnaires measuring the variables of interest. A mediation model with worry as a mediator between inhibitory and prospective intolerance of uncertainty and weight and shape concerns was tested. Results A total and direct effect of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty on weight and shape concerns was found. Worry did not mediate this relation. Conclusions These results confirm the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa. Plain English summary Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa often experience repetitive thoughts about weight and shape. Growing research suggests the relevance of intolerance of uncertainty and worry in maintaining these types of repetitive thoughts. Intolerance of uncertainty is defined as the incapacity to tolerate uncertainty and is often divided into two components; prospective intolerance of uncertainty (desire for predictability) and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty (uncertainty paralysis). The relation between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa is understudied. This study aims to investigate study relations between prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty, worry, and weight and shape concerns. A total of 93 adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa completed three questionnaires, measuring prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty worry, and weight and shape concerns, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the importance of inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa, more specifically to weight and shape concerns. This group may benefit from intervention strategies targeting intolerance of uncertainty. General worry seems less relevant to weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00523-4Adolescent girlsAnorexia nervosaWeight and shape concernsProspective intolerance of uncertaintyInhibitory intolerance of uncertaintyWorry |
| spellingShingle | Jojanneke M. Bijsterbosch Anouk Keizer Paul A. Boelen Femke van den Brink Unna N. Danner Lot C. Sternheim How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa Journal of Eating Disorders Adolescent girls Anorexia nervosa Weight and shape concerns Prospective intolerance of uncertainty Inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty Worry |
| title | How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| title_full | How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| title_fullStr | How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| title_full_unstemmed | How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| title_short | How deep is your thought? The relations between intolerance of uncertainty, worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| title_sort | how deep is your thought the relations between intolerance of uncertainty worry and weight and shape concerns in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa |
| topic | Adolescent girls Anorexia nervosa Weight and shape concerns Prospective intolerance of uncertainty Inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty Worry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00523-4 |
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