Objective
Difficulties in emotion regulation are thought to play a transdiagnostic role across eating disorders (ED). In the current study, we explored with a path analysis the mediating role of self‐criticism, experiential avoidance and negative urgency on the relationship between ED‐related symptoms and dimensions of difficulties in emotion regulation.
Method
Participants were 103 female outpatients recruited at a Portuguese ED hospital unit, diagnosed with an ED, aged 14–60 years old (M = 28.0, SD = 10.5), body mass index (BMI) ranging from 11.72 to 39.44 (M = 20.1, SD = 5.4).
Results
The path analysis resulted in a model with an adequate fit to the data (SRMR = 0.05; RMSEA = 0.07 [0.00, 0.12], PCLOSE = 0.269; TLI = 0.97; IFI = 0.99; GFI = 0.95). A final model in which the relationship between ED‐related symptoms and dimensions of difficulties in emotion regulation was mediated by self‐criticism, experiential avoidance and negative urgency, accounted for a variance of 71% for strategies, 57% for non‐acceptance, 62% for impulses, 56% for goals and 20% for clarity.
Conclusion
Results suggest that self‐criticism, experiential avoidance and negative urgency, combined, are relevant in the relationship between ED‐related symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation. ED treatment and emotion regulation skills may be enhanced through the inclusion of specific components that target self‐criticism, experiential avoidance and negative urgency, as they become prominent during the therapeutic process.
