Hasty decision-making in individuals at higher risk of developing an eating disorder.
Beads task
Cognitive bias
Disordered eating
Eating disorders
Jumping to conclusions
Journal
Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry
ISSN: 1873-7943
Titre abrégé: J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 0245075
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 2022
06 2022
Historique:
received:
21
12
2020
revised:
04
11
2021
accepted:
06
12
2021
pubmed:
21
12
2021
medline:
23
3
2022
entrez:
20
12
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The Jumping to Conclusions (JTC) bias is the tendency to make hasty decisions based on limited evidence and may contribute to the formation of over-valued beliefs about the importance of weight, shape and eating. Previous research investigating the JTC bias in clinical eating disorder samples, as assessed by the beads task, is inconclusive. The current study investigated the JTC bias in a non-clinical sample of undergraduate students identified as being lower or higher risk of developing an eating disorder. The study used a more reliable 'distractor' beads task that also incentivised hastier decisions by elevating the pressure of the task. Female undergraduate students (N = 156, 48%, classified as higher risk) completed a pressure and non-pressure distractor beads task, along with measures of weight concern and body-image flexibility. Higher risk participants displayed a hastier decision-making style than lower risk participants. Task pressure elicited a hastier decision-making style across the whole sample, however, was unable to distinguish between higher and lower eating disorder risk status. Interpretation of findings are limited to non-clinical samples and may not generalise to clinical eating disorder populations. Findings suggest the need for replication in a clinical eating disorder sample using the distractor beads task. Future research should investigate whether eating disorder salient stimuli elicits a stronger bias.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The Jumping to Conclusions (JTC) bias is the tendency to make hasty decisions based on limited evidence and may contribute to the formation of over-valued beliefs about the importance of weight, shape and eating. Previous research investigating the JTC bias in clinical eating disorder samples, as assessed by the beads task, is inconclusive. The current study investigated the JTC bias in a non-clinical sample of undergraduate students identified as being lower or higher risk of developing an eating disorder. The study used a more reliable 'distractor' beads task that also incentivised hastier decisions by elevating the pressure of the task.
METHODS
Female undergraduate students (N = 156, 48%, classified as higher risk) completed a pressure and non-pressure distractor beads task, along with measures of weight concern and body-image flexibility.
RESULTS
Higher risk participants displayed a hastier decision-making style than lower risk participants. Task pressure elicited a hastier decision-making style across the whole sample, however, was unable to distinguish between higher and lower eating disorder risk status.
LIMITATIONS
Interpretation of findings are limited to non-clinical samples and may not generalise to clinical eating disorder populations.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest the need for replication in a clinical eating disorder sample using the distractor beads task. Future research should investigate whether eating disorder salient stimuli elicits a stronger bias.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34929485
pii: S0005-7916(21)00082-3
doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101717
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
101717Informations de copyright
Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.