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Justice sensitivity and rejection sensitivity as predictors and outcomes of eating disorder pathology: A 5‐year longitudinal study
Author(s) -
Bondü Rebecca,
Bilgin Ayten,
Warschburger Petra
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23273
Subject(s) - sensitivity (control systems) , psychology , economic justice , personality pathology , anxiety sensitivity , clinical psychology , pathology , personality , medicine , anxiety , psychiatry , social psychology , personality disorders , neoclassical economics , electronic engineering , engineering , economics
Objective Rejection sensitivity and justice sensitivity are personality traits that are characterized by frequent perceptions and intense adverse responses to negative social cues. Whereas there is good evidence for associations between rejection sensitivity, justice sensitivity, and internalizing problems, no longitudinal studies have investigated their association with eating disorder (ED) pathology so far. Thus, the present study examined longitudinal relations between rejection sensitivity, justice sensitivity, and ED pathology. Method Participants ( N = 769) reported on their rejection sensitivity, justice sensitivity, and ED pathology at 9–19 (T1), 11–21 (T2), and 14–22 years of age (T3). Results Latent cross‐lagged models showed longitudinal associations between ED pathology and anxious rejection sensitivity, observer and victim justice sensitivity. T1 and T2 ED pathology predicted higher T2 and T3 anxious rejection sensitivity, respectively. In turn, T2 anxious rejection sensitivity predicted more T3 ED pathology. T1 observer justice sensitivity predicted more T2 ED pathology, which predicted higher T3 observer justice sensitivity. Furthermore, T1 ED pathology predicted higher T2 victim justice sensitivity. Discussion Rejection sensitivity—particularly anxious rejection sensitivity—and justice sensitivity may be involved in the maintenance or worsening of ED pathology and should be considered by future research and in prevention and treatment of ED pathology. Also, mental health problems may increase rejection sensitivity and justice sensitivity traits in the long term.