Discrepancies Between Explicit Feelings of Power and Implicit Power Motives Are Related to Anxiety in Women With Anorexia Nervosa.

anorexia nervosa anxiety eating disorders implicit motives power powerlessness

Journal

Frontiers in psychology
ISSN: 1664-1078
Titre abrégé: Front Psychol
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101550902

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2020
Historique:
received: 17 10 2020
accepted: 21 12 2020
entrez: 26 2 2021
pubmed: 27 2 2021
medline: 27 2 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Several studies identified low subjective feelings of power in women with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, little is known about implicit power motives and the discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives in AN. The study investigated the discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives and its relationship to anxiety in patients with AN. Fifty-three outpatients and inpatients with AN and 48 participants without AN were compared regarding subjective feelings of power and anxiety. Explicit power [investigated with the Personal Sense of Power Scale (trait focus) and a visual analog scale (state focus)], implicit power motives [investigated with the Multi-Motive Grid (MMG)] and trait anxiety [measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)], were assessed. Explicit feelings of power (state and trait level) were lower in patients with AN compared to non-AN participants. No differences in implicit power motives were found when comparing the groups against each other. However, looking at the groups separately, women with AN had similar levels of implicit fear of losing power and hope for power, whereas woman without AN had significantly lower fear of losing power than hope for power. Focusing on discrepancies between powerful feelings and power motives, results were mixed, depending on the subscale of the MMG. Lastly, discrepancies between implicit power motives and explicit feelings of power were positively correlated with trait anxiety in AN patients. These findings underline that individuals with AN display significantly lower explicit feelings of power, however, they show similar implicit power motives compared to individuals without AN. The discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives is related to anxiety in AN and may represent a vulnerability factor to illness maintenance.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Several studies identified low subjective feelings of power in women with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, little is known about implicit power motives and the discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives in AN.
AIM OBJECTIVE
The study investigated the discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives and its relationship to anxiety in patients with AN.
METHOD METHODS
Fifty-three outpatients and inpatients with AN and 48 participants without AN were compared regarding subjective feelings of power and anxiety. Explicit power [investigated with the Personal Sense of Power Scale (trait focus) and a visual analog scale (state focus)], implicit power motives [investigated with the Multi-Motive Grid (MMG)] and trait anxiety [measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)], were assessed.
RESULTS RESULTS
Explicit feelings of power (state and trait level) were lower in patients with AN compared to non-AN participants. No differences in implicit power motives were found when comparing the groups against each other. However, looking at the groups separately, women with AN had similar levels of implicit fear of losing power and hope for power, whereas woman without AN had significantly lower fear of losing power than hope for power. Focusing on discrepancies between powerful feelings and power motives, results were mixed, depending on the subscale of the MMG. Lastly, discrepancies between implicit power motives and explicit feelings of power were positively correlated with trait anxiety in AN patients.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
These findings underline that individuals with AN display significantly lower explicit feelings of power, however, they show similar implicit power motives compared to individuals without AN. The discrepancy between explicit feelings of power and implicit power motives is related to anxiety in AN and may represent a vulnerability factor to illness maintenance.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33633629
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.618650
pmc: PMC7901641
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

618650

Commentaires et corrections

Type : CommentIn

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2021 Weineck, Schultchen, Dunker, Hauke, Lachenmeir, Schnebel, Karačić, Meule, Voderholzer and Pollatos.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

UV, AM, and MK were employed by Schön Klinik. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Auteurs

Felicitas Weineck (F)

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.

Dana Schultchen (D)

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.

Freya Dunker (F)

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.

Gernot Hauke (G)

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.

Karin Lachenmeir (K)

Treatment Center for Eating Disorders, Dritter Orden Hospital, Munich, Germany.

Andreas Schnebel (A)

ANAD e.V., Munich, Germany.

Matislava Karačić (M)

Schön Klinik Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany.

Adrian Meule (A)

Schön Klinik Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.

Ulrich Voderholzer (U)

Schön Klinik Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Olga Pollatos (O)

Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.

Classifications MeSH