Eating disorders with over-exercise: A cross-sectional analysis of the mediational role of problematic usage of the internet in young people
Eating disorders with over-exercise: A cross-sectional analysis of the mediational role of problematic usage of the internet in young people
Eating disorders are widespread illnesses with significant global impact. There is growing concern about how young people overuse online resources leading to mental health sequelae. We gathered data from 639 individuals from a population cohort. Participants were all young adults at the point of contact and were grouped as having probable eating disorder with excessive exercise (n = 37) or controls (n = 602). We measured obsessionality, compulsivity, impulsivity, and problematic internet use. Group differences in these domains were evaluated; and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess structural relationships between variables. Cases had higher scores of obsessional thoughts of threat (Cohen's d = 0.94, p < 0.001), intolerance towards uncertainty (Cohen's d = 0.72; p < 0.001), thoughts of importance and control (Cohen's d = 0.65, p < 0.01), compulsivity (Cohen's d = 0.72; p < 0.001), negative urgency (Cohen's d = 0.75, p < 0.001), and higher problematic usage of the internet (Cohen's d = 0.73; p-corrected <0.001). Our SEM showed significant partial mediation of problematic internet use on both the effect of obsessionality latent factor on cases (z-value = 2.52, p < 0.05), as well as of sensation seeking latent factor on cases (z-value = 2.09, p < 0.05). Youth with eating disorder and heightened exercise levels have increased obsessive thoughts of threat, compulsivity traits and sensation seeking impulsivity. The association between obsessive thoughts and eating disorders, as well as sensation seeking and eating disorders were partially mediated by problematic internet use. Problematic internet use may be playing a role in the development or maintenance of eating disorder symptoms in the background of obsessional thoughts and sensation seeking impulsive traits.
Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Eating disorder, Internet addiction, Problematic internet use
215-222
Ioannidis, Konstantinos
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Hook, Roxanne W.
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Grant, Jon E.
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Czabanowska, Katarzyna
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Roman-Urrestarazu, Andres
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Chamberlain, Samuel R.
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Ioannidis, Konstantinos
82240a24-3153-45bb-bfaf-c6df9cd4f261
Hook, Roxanne W.
6d6193c6-bc38-4593-9d00-aaf098078b5e
Grant, Jon E.
07372bd5-8a0d-42b4-b41b-e376c652acf3
Czabanowska, Katarzyna
4960688f-abfc-424e-8b9b-17eec890acc6
Roman-Urrestarazu, Andres
17d0d3cf-e054-498b-b6a9-2a9f63aabd07
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Ioannidis, Konstantinos, Hook, Roxanne W., Grant, Jon E., Czabanowska, Katarzyna, Roman-Urrestarazu, Andres and Chamberlain, Samuel R.
(2020)
Eating disorders with over-exercise: A cross-sectional analysis of the mediational role of problematic usage of the internet in young people.
Journal of Psychiatric Research, 132, .
(doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.11.004).
Abstract
Eating disorders are widespread illnesses with significant global impact. There is growing concern about how young people overuse online resources leading to mental health sequelae. We gathered data from 639 individuals from a population cohort. Participants were all young adults at the point of contact and were grouped as having probable eating disorder with excessive exercise (n = 37) or controls (n = 602). We measured obsessionality, compulsivity, impulsivity, and problematic internet use. Group differences in these domains were evaluated; and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to assess structural relationships between variables. Cases had higher scores of obsessional thoughts of threat (Cohen's d = 0.94, p < 0.001), intolerance towards uncertainty (Cohen's d = 0.72; p < 0.001), thoughts of importance and control (Cohen's d = 0.65, p < 0.01), compulsivity (Cohen's d = 0.72; p < 0.001), negative urgency (Cohen's d = 0.75, p < 0.001), and higher problematic usage of the internet (Cohen's d = 0.73; p-corrected <0.001). Our SEM showed significant partial mediation of problematic internet use on both the effect of obsessionality latent factor on cases (z-value = 2.52, p < 0.05), as well as of sensation seeking latent factor on cases (z-value = 2.09, p < 0.05). Youth with eating disorder and heightened exercise levels have increased obsessive thoughts of threat, compulsivity traits and sensation seeking impulsivity. The association between obsessive thoughts and eating disorders, as well as sensation seeking and eating disorders were partially mediated by problematic internet use. Problematic internet use may be playing a role in the development or maintenance of eating disorder symptoms in the background of obsessional thoughts and sensation seeking impulsive traits.
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1-s2.0-S0022395620310608-main (1)
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Accepted/In Press date: 1 November 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 4 November 2020
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© 2020 The Author(s)
Keywords:
Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, Eating disorder, Internet addiction, Problematic internet use
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Local EPrints ID: 492612
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492612
ISSN: 0022-3956
PURE UUID: 6c5af2d8-3755-49fc-a493-9667453d084a
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Date deposited: 07 Aug 2024 17:53
Last modified: 08 Aug 2024 02:06
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Author:
Konstantinos Ioannidis
Author:
Roxanne W. Hook
Author:
Jon E. Grant
Author:
Katarzyna Czabanowska
Author:
Andres Roman-Urrestarazu
Author:
Samuel R. Chamberlain
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