Investigating Momentary Body Image Disturbance, Affect, and Disordered Eating Among College Students
Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Diana Rancourt, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Brent Small, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Robert Schlauch, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jon Rottenberg, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kristen Salomon, Ph.D.
Keywords
Body Image, Eating Disorder, Eating Pathology
Abstract
Despite evidence that eating disorders are associated with elevated mortality rates, increased risk of suicide, and societal and financial burden, treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders remain poor. Body image disturbance has emerged as a robust risk factor for the development and maintenance of disordered eating (e.g., overeating, binge eating, purging, restriction) and theoretical and clinical perspectives most commonly operationalize body image disturbance as a trait construct. However, empirical evidence suggests body dissatisfaction may fluctuate, and these fluctuations may play an important role in the relationship between risk factors and disordered eating. The current study employed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate the interaction between state weight and shape concerns and momentary affect on restrained eating, compensatory behaviors, binge eating, and any disordered eating engagement among 78 university females who were at high risk for an eating disorder. Results did not support the hypothesis that momentary negative or positive affect moderated the relationship between state weight and shape concerns and disordered eating outcomes. Within-person, greater positive affect predicted restrained eating and greater weight and shape concerns predicted binge eating. Between-person, greater positive affect and greater weight and shape concerns predicted restrained eating, and greater weight and shape concerns predicted any disordered eating. Findings suggest that momentary weight and shape concerns and positive affect influence disordered eating engagement, and interventions may benefit from targeting state-level affect and body image antecedents of disordered eating. Other complex models (e.g., mediation) should be explored to disentangle the dynamic relationship between state-level antecedents of eating behavior.
Scholar Commons Citation
Cunning, Allison T., "Investigating Momentary Body Image Disturbance, Affect, and Disordered Eating Among College Students" (2025). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10852
