Examining emotion regulation in binge eating disorder

Abstract

Background: Emotion regulation (ER) theory posits that individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) experience difficulties in ER and consequently engage in binge eating to modulate intense emotions. Method: Individual with BED (N = 62) and individuals with no history of an eating disorder (NED; N = 80) were recruited from the community and completed measures of eating disorder psychopathology, difficulties in ER, depression, insomnia, and impulsivity. Results: Individuals with BED reported increased difficulties in ER and in emotion-related facets of impulsivity compared to individuals with NED. Increased difficulties in ER were associated with eating disorder psychopathology and depression modulated the relationship between ER and binge frequency, such that this association was significant in individuals who reported higher depression. Insomnia symptom severity did not moderate the relationship between ER and eating disorder pathology. Conclusions: The findings support the ER model of BED. Clinical implications and future directions for research are discussed.