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| Flexibility with Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Valued Living |
| Monday, May 25, 2009 |
| 3:00 PM–4:20 PM |
| North 222 AB |
| Area: CBM/VRB; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Kate Kellum (The University of Mississippi) |
| Discussant: Emily Kennison Sandoz (University of Mississippi) |
| Abstract: Disordered eating is a class of behaviors associated with devastating disruptions of life, frightening medical consequences, and traditionally unsuccessful interventions. Behavioral approaches have offered no exception. The narrowness and rigidity that characterize disordered eating are not easily explained by direct contingencies. Interventions based on direct contingency accounts have been only marginally successful. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging behavior therapy based on the idea that these behaviors are verbally-maintained. ACT focuses on reducing aversive control by expanding upon functions of aversive private events, and increasing appetitive control by increasing contact with values events. Part of the difficulties typically referred to as eating disorders involves the aversive control exerted by one’s body image. The papers in this symposium will explore the relationship between psychological flexibility with body image, disordered eating, and valued living. The first will explore self-reported body image attitudes, flexibility with body image, and valued living. The second will consider the impact of body image attitudes and flexibility with body image on performance on the implicit relational assessment procure. The third will evaluate the outcomes and processes of Acceptance and Commitment Training for Body Image Disturbance. |
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| Psychological Flexibility, Disordered Eating, and Valued Living |
| AMY E. YAUGER (University of Mississippi), Lindsay Martin (University of Mississippi), Emily Kennison Sandoz (University of Mississippi), Kelly G. Wilson (University of Mississippi), Kate Kellum (The University of Mississippi) |
| Abstract: Part of the difficulties typically referred to as eating disorders involves narrowness and rigidity in the way an individual interacts with the private events that make up his or her body image. When body image is salient, aversive control tends to dominate the behavioral repertoire. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders takes aim at precisely this issue, with the focus on increasing a particular kind of appetitive control, referred to as valued living. The current study examines the relationships between psychological flexibility with regard to body image, body image related attitudes, disordered eating, and valued living. |
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| Verbal Processes associated with Disordered Eating |
| LINDSAY MARTIN (University of Mississippi), Emily Kennison Sandoz (University of Mississippi), Kelly G. Wilson (University of Mississippi) |
| Abstract: Basic learning processes provide a simple and straightforward account of eating behavior in animals. However, human eating behavior seems to be subject to contingencies not fully captured by basic respondent and operant contingencies. One explanation is that these contingencies are contacted verbally. Emerging treatments for disordered eating (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) focus on undermining the verbal control thought to be central to these behaviors. In this study, an implicit relational assessment procedure (IRAP) was created to examine verbal processes that may be related to disordered eating behaviors. Participants were exposed to words representing over- or under eating, and to contingencies supporting their classification as either “good” or “bad.” Data were examined for differences in rates of correct responding between conditions (over-eating good/under-eating bad vs. under-eating good/over-eating bad). These differences were also examined separately for those reporting disordered eating at the clinical level. Finally, rates of correct responding were predicted from body image distress and degree of flexibility with body image distress. |
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| The Effects of ACT for Body Image Disturbance on Eating Behavior and Valued Living |
| EMILY KENNISON SANDOZ (University of Mississippi), Kelly G. Wilson (University of Mississippi), Kate Kellum (The University of Mississippi) |
| Abstract: Body image involves one’s subjective experience of his or her own body. Under some conditions, body image can come to exert strong aversive control, disrupting the effects of appetitive control and narrowing an individual’s behavioral repertoire. This is commonly referred to as body image disturbance. Typically, interventions to address body image disturbance involve attempts to change how the body is experienced. Acceptance and Commitment Training for Body Image (ACT-BI) takes a different approach, aiming to expand the functions of body image, in order to increase the breadth and flexibility of the repertoire. The current study will examine the impact of ACT-BI, cognitive behavioral group training, or waitlist control on eating behavior and quality of life. Body image attitudes, coping strategies, and flexibility with body image will also be evaluated as reputed mechanisms of change. |
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