The Interacting Role of Emotion Regulation and Trait Anger on Eating Pathology

Abstract

People with eating disorders (ED) have difficulty managing their anger levels and regulating their emotions. One hundred and seven University students were divided in displaying general eating pathology (20) and healthy controls (87) based on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The subjects were assessed with the State Trait Anger Inventory II (STAXI-II) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The subjects in the eating pathology group displayed significantly higher levels of trait anger and anger suppression than the control group. They also scored significantly higher on lack of emotional regulation and lack of emotional clarity and non-significantly higher on lack of emotional awareness. Analysing the moderating effect of trait anger on the relation between emotional regulation and eating pathology showed no significance. Results are consistent with previous research and illustrate the implications of anger and deficits in emotional processing in individuals with disordered eating. These findings underscore the importance of highlighting anger and emotional processing strategies in therapeutic and preventative interventions.