| dc.description.abstract | Abstract Previous research showed that the majority of patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) also experience strong feelings of anxiety. Besides that, up to 80% of AN patients manifest elevated levels of physical activity or hyperactivity. Because the research literature is still limited, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and hyperactivity, by means of the Experience Sampling Method, self report questionnaires and an Actiwatch which is a watch-like device that registers all movement. We hypothesized that hyperactivity may act as a form of mood regulation or coping with negative emotions like anxiety. A distinction was made between trait and state anxiety. Hyperactivity was measured with different assessment tools because we predicted that patients could not rate their own activity levels accurately. Despite the fact the results of this study are preliminary, this study indicates that eating disorder symptoms like hyperactivity can serve as a regulation method of negative emotions like anxiety. Besides, severity of AN, trait & state anxiety are strongly related to meals. No correlation was found between state and trait anxiety and therefore we conclude patients have little insight in their own negative emotions. Also, patients couldn’t rate their own activity levels accurately. | |
