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Approach and avoidance bias for thin‐ideal and normal‐weight body shapes in anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Brockmeyer Timo,
Burdenski Kathrin,
Anderle Alisa,
Voges Mona M.,
Vocks Silja,
Schmidt Hagen,
WünschLeiteritz Wally,
Leiteritz Andreas,
Friederich HansChristoph
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.2744
Subject(s) - psychology , anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , body weight , preference , normal weight , developmental psychology , ideal (ethics) , clinical psychology , body mass index , medicine , statistics , philosophy , mathematics , epistemology , overweight
Objective The two studies aimed to examine implicit affective evaluations of thin‐ideal and normal‐weight body shapes in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), taking identification with body shapes into account. Method In study 1, approach–avoidance bias for thin‐ideal and normal‐weight bodies was assessed in 40 women with AN and 40 healthy women by using an Approach‐Avoidance Task and female avatar bodies with a standard face as stimuli. In study 2, 39 women with AN and 38 healthy women underwent a similar task but identification with bodies was manipulated by presenting bodies once with the participant's own face and once with another woman's face. Results In study 1, patients with AN did not differ from healthy participants in their automatic approach–avoidance tendencies towards thin‐ideal and normal‐weight bodies. In study 2, no definite approach bias for a thin self and no avoidance bias for thin other women or for a normal‐weight self were found. However, as compared to healthy women, those with AN showed a less positive implicit evaluation of thin other women, and an implicit preference for thin bodies depicted as themselves over thin bodies depicted as another woman. Conclusions The findings suggest that intra‐sexual competition for being slim is increased in AN.