Abstract
IntroductionInefficient problem solving in the social domain may be one of the difficulties underlying the interpersonal challenges thought to maintain anorexia nervosa (AN). However, past studies have neglected to control for depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty (IU), which are known to contribute to social problem solving.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate whether adults with AN would show differences in social problem solving on an experimental task (Means‐End Problem Solving; MEPS) and report differences in their attitudes (positive, negative) toward social problem solving and their use of social problem‐solving styles (rational, impulsive–careless, avoidant) on the Social Problem‐Solving Inventory Revised (SPSRI) compared to a non‐AN control group.ResultsSeventy‐four adult women took part (30 with AN and 44 non‐AN controls), and data show that those with AN generated significantly less effective solutions on the MEPS (d = 1.96) reported overall poorer social problem solving on the SPSRI (d = 0.58), reporting more negative and less positive attitudes toward social problem solving, and less impulsive and more avoidant social problem‐solving styles. However, those with AN did not differ from controls in being able to rationalize social problems. Once depression (Beck Depression Inventory: BDI), state anxiety (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory: STAI), and IU (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale‐12; IUS‐12) were included as covariates, these differences were no longer significant, suggesting that comorbid depression, anxiety, and IU symptoms may contribute to social problem solving in AN.ConclusionsThere was no specific effect of depression. Treating anxiety and IU might help to improve social problem solving and enable people with AN to be able to better access social support to aid their recovery.
Highlights
Inefficient problem solving in the social domain may be one of the difficulties underlying the interpersonal challenges thought to maintain anorexia nervosa (AN)
Social problem solving is the process through which people attempt to identify or discover effective and adaptive solutions to problems they experience in their daily life (D'Zurilla, Nezu, & MaydeuOlivares, 2002)
The key question this project sought to address was whether people with AN show differences in their social problem-solving skills relative to a non-AN control group and whether these differences might be accounted for by depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty (IU)
Summary
Inefficient problem solving in the social domain may be one of the difficulties underlying the interpersonal challenges thought to maintain anorexia nervosa (AN). Results: Seventy-four adult women took part (30 with AN and 44 non-AN controls), and data show that those with AN generated significantly less effective solutions on the MEPS (d = 1.96) reported overall poorer social problem solving on the SPSRI (d = 0.58), reporting more negative and less positive attitudes toward social problem solving, and less impulsive and more avoidant social problem-solving styles. Interpersonal difficulties are thought to be so key to AN that these difficulties are targeted in recent treatment protocols (Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults; MANTRA, (Schmidt, Wade, & Treasure, 2014, Interpersonal Therapy for Eating Disorders; IPT-ED; Rieger et al, 2010) These interpersonal difficulties may contribute to the high levels of social withdrawal and isolation that patients with AN often report. Improving social problem solving may help those with AN navigate social interaction and interpersonal relationships and so reduce social withdrawal
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