TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of alexithymia and mood on eating psychopathology in a non-clinical female sample
AU - Ridout, N.
AU - Wallis, D.J.
AU - Autwal, Y.
AU - Kralj, A.
AU - Sellis, J.
AU - Taylor, E.
PY - 2011/10/1
Y1 - 2011/10/1
N2 - It has been demonstrated that clinical and subclinical disor-
dered eating are associated with elevated levels of depression and
the personality trait alexithymia (ALX). ALX means literally lack of
words for emotion and is associated with a difficulty identifying and
describing feelings, and with an externally oriented cognitive style.
The aim of the current study was to examine the inter-relationships
between mood and ALX in accounting for variations in non-clinical
eating psychopathology. 124 females were assessed on the 20-
item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS) and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI).
Results revealed that EDI scores were positively associated with
scores on the TAS-20 and with scores on the depression and anxi-
ety subscales of the HADS. A series of stepwise multiple regressions
revealed that depression and ALX accounted for 53% of the variance
in total EDI scores and 40% of the variance in scores on the drive-
for-thinness subscale of the EDI. Scores on the bulimia and body
dissatisfaction subscales were predicted by the mood scores only.
In conclusion, ALX and mood may contribute, alone and in combi-
nation, to the development of some forms of disordered eating.
AB - It has been demonstrated that clinical and subclinical disor-
dered eating are associated with elevated levels of depression and
the personality trait alexithymia (ALX). ALX means literally lack of
words for emotion and is associated with a difficulty identifying and
describing feelings, and with an externally oriented cognitive style.
The aim of the current study was to examine the inter-relationships
between mood and ALX in accounting for variations in non-clinical
eating psychopathology. 124 females were assessed on the 20-
item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS) and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI).
Results revealed that EDI scores were positively associated with
scores on the TAS-20 and with scores on the depression and anxi-
ety subscales of the HADS. A series of stepwise multiple regressions
revealed that depression and ALX accounted for 53% of the variance
in total EDI scores and 40% of the variance in scores on the drive-
for-thinness subscale of the EDI. Scores on the bulimia and body
dissatisfaction subscales were predicted by the mood scores only.
In conclusion, ALX and mood may contribute, alone and in combi-
nation, to the development of some forms of disordered eating.
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666311002480?via%3Dihub
U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2011.05.091
DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2011.05.091
M3 - Article
SN - 0195-6663
VL - 57
SP - 565
JO - Appetite
JF - Appetite
IS - 2
ER -