The influence of intolerance of uncertainty on the relation between body image disturbance and symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology

Abstract

Body image and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) are important factors in eating disorder psychopathology. Recent findings suggest that less structured assessment of body image could evoke uncertainty and influence the outcomes. The current study investigates what the influence of IU is on the relation between body image disturbance and symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology. It was hypothesized that (1) if women show a more disturbed body image, they will show more symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology, compared to women with a less disturbed body image. (2) If women show more symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology, they will also report more IU compared to women with less symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology. (3) Women with more IU will show a worse outcome on a less structured (Rope) than on a more structured (Hoop) task compared to women with lower IU levels. Participants completed questionnaires about body image (LAV), IU (IUS) and eating disorder psychopathology (EDDS) and performed two tasks (Rope and Hoop). Results revealed that women who showed a more negative attitude towards their body image, also showed more symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology. Second, if women showed more symptoms of eating disorder psychopathology, they also reported more IU. Women with more IU did not show a worse outcome on the less structured than on the more structured task compared to women with less IU. Future research should provide more (validated) ways to assess body image and include clinical and non-clinical participants to deviate the influence of structure and IU.