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Inhibition of eating behavior: Negative cognitive effects of dieting
Author(s) -
Hart Kenneth E.,
Chiovari Patricia
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199806)54:4<427::aid-jclp4>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - dieting , psychology , neuroticism , rumination , cognition , clinical psychology , extraversion and introversion , developmental psychology , intervention (counseling) , personality , big five personality traits , social psychology , psychiatry , weight loss , obesity , medicine
This study tested the hypothesis that dieters would score higher than nondieters in terms of food rumination. Two hundred and thirty one college undergraduates completed the Eating Obsessive‐Compulsiveness Scale (EOCS) and responded to a questionnaire that inquired about dieting status. Subjects also completed measures that tapped neuroticism and social desirability. Results showed that current dieters were significantly more obsessed with thoughts of eating and food than were nondieters. Neither dieting status nor EOCS scale scores were related to neuroticism or social desirability. These results are consistent with previous theory and research suggesting that inhibition of appetitive behaviors can have negative cognitive effects. Moreover, they indicate a potential target for therapeutic intervention. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 54: 427–430, 1998.