Latent profiles of emotion dysregulation among individuals with binge‐spectrum eating disorders: Associations with eating disorder pathology

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveEmotion dysregulation (i.e., a multi‐component term comprising nonacceptance of emotional responses, difficulty engaging in goal‐directed behaviour, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional awareness, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and lack of emotional clarity) is a well‐established transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factor for eating disorders. To date, there is limited information on how varying scores on subdomains of emotion dysregulation may yield distinct profiles in individuals with binge‐spectrum eating disorders (B‐EDs), and how these emotion dysregulation profiles may inform resultant symptomatology.MethodIn the current study, treatment‐seeking individuals with B‐EDs (n = 315) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Eating Disorder Examination. Latent profile analysis was conducted on the six subscales of the DERS. Identified latent profiles were examined as predictors of eating disorder pathology using linear regression, and a two‐class model of emotion dysregulation fit the data.ResultsClass 1 (n = 113) was low in all of the DERS subscales, while Class 2 (n = 202) was high in all of the DERS subscales. Individuals in Class 2 had a significantly higher frequency of compensatory behaviours in the past month (F(1,313) = 12.97, p < 0.001), and significantly higher restraint scores (F(1,313) = 17.86, p < 0.001). The classes also significantly differed in terms of eating concern (F(1,313) = 20.89, p < 0.001) and shape concern (F(1,313) = 4.59, p = 0.03), with both being higher for Class 2.DiscussionWe found only two distinct classes of emotion dysregulation in B‐ED's such that individuals were simply high or low in emotion dysregulation. These results suggest that it may be more valuable for future research to evaluate emotion dysregulation as a cohesive whole rather than conceptualising the construct as having truly distinct subdomains.