Effects of negative outcome on food consumption in college women with and without troubled eating patterns

Abstract

This study looked at the effects that failure experiences have on food consumption and their effect on college women. Part I of the study ( N = 169) was used to screen subjects for Part II ( N = 55) based on scores on the Bulimia Test-Revised. In Part II, eating-disordered and control participants completed one of two types of tasks—a negative outcome and a neutral outcome control task. Following the task, a bogus cookie rating task provided the opportunity for participants to eat chocolate chip cookies. Mood was assessed throughout Part II. Results indicate that mood was more negative following the negative outcome task. Eatingdisordered participants ate more than did controls in this same condition; these participants also reported improved mood after eating.