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Mindfulness Moderates the Relationship Between Disordered Eating Cognitions and Disordered Eating Behaviors in a Non-Clinical College Sample

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Abstract

Psychological flexibility and mindfulness are two related, but distinct, regulation processes that have been shown to be at the core of psychological wellbeing. The current study investigated whether these two processes independently moderated the association between disordered eating cognitions and psychological distress as well as the relation between disordered eating cognitions and disordered eating behaviors. Non-clinical, ethnically diverse college undergraduates completed a web-based survey. Of 278 participants (nfemale = 208; nmale = 70) aged 18–24 years old, disordered eating cognitions, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility were related to psychological distress after controlling for gender, ethnicity, and body mass index. Disordered eating cognitions and mindfulness accounted for unique variance in disordered eating behaviors. Finally, mindfulness was found to moderate the association between disordered eating cognitions and disordered eating behaviors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    Akihiko Masuda, Matthew Price & Robert D. Latzman

  2. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    Akihiko Masuda

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  1. Akihiko Masuda
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  2. Matthew Price
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Correspondence to Akihiko Masuda.

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Masuda, A., Price, M. & Latzman, R.D. Mindfulness Moderates the Relationship Between Disordered Eating Cognitions and Disordered Eating Behaviors in a Non-Clinical College Sample. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 34, 107–115 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9252-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9252-7

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