The role of mindfulness on the psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa.
Neşe Dikmeer, Burcu Ersöz Alan, Dilşad Foto Özdemir
Clinical child psychology and psychiatry January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/13591045231190675 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness plays a crucial role in addressing anorexia nervosa (AN), particularly among adolescents. In a study involving 76 participants—20 girls in the acute phase of AN, 16 in remission, and 40 controls—mindfulness was found to be lowest in the acute group. Body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of disordered eating across all groups. Notably, emotion regulation difficulties correlated with depression and anxiety in acute AN, suggesting that mindfulness interventions could effectively support emotion regulation and perfectionism both during and after treatment.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 76 |
| Population | Adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (acute or remission) and healthy controls |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Anorexia nervosa Adolescent Emotion regulation Perfectionism |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Mindfulness is lowest in acute anorexia nervosa, and its relationship with eating disorder symptoms is influenced by depression and anxiety. |
Abstract
Emotion regulation, perfectionism, and rumination are perpetuating factors in anorexia nervosa (AN). Mindfulness can be protective and therapeutic. We aimed to understand the relationship between these factors and mindfulness in AN. 20 adolescent girls in the acute phase of the AN, 16 in remission, and 40 in the control group were evaluated. Mindfulness was lowest in the acute AN group. The difference in the acute AN group regarding body dissatisfaction, emotion dysregulation, perfectionism, and mindfulness disappeared after controlling for the effects of depression and anxiety. The predictors of disordered eating in the entire study population were body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. Emotion regulation and perfectionism were the predictors of mindfulness in the acute AN group and the entire study population. When mindfulness decreased, concerns about body shape increased in both acute AN and remission groups, while dietary restriction and disordered eating behaviors increased only in the remission group. Emotion regulation difficulties in acute AN could be related to depression and anxiety. Mindfulness interventions for emotion regulation could be used for depression during the acute phase while for perfectionism in remission. Early intervention for depression and body dissatisfaction seems protective, and mindfulness could be an appropriate intervention.