Abstract
PurposePrevious research suggests that eating disorders may be associated with certain personality profiles; however, there is limited research investigating associations with night eating syndrome (NES). This research suggests harm avoidance personality trait is higher in NES individuals than in the general population, however, evidence of associations with other personality traits is inconsistent. To understand which personality traits are associated with NES symptoms, the current study aimed to improve understanding of the relationship between NES symptoms and a range of personality traits, addressing limitations in the earlier literature in this area by controlling for common confounders.MethodsBaseline data were analysed from an outpatient psychotherapy trial for 111 women with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Pre-treatment measures of personality traits (measured with the Temperament and character inventory—revised) and NES symptoms (measured with the Night eating questionnaire) were used. Regression analyses tested associations between these variables, adjusting for potential confounders, including age and ethnicity.ResultsLow cooperativeness scores were associated with greater NES symptoms in the multivariable model (mean difference: − 0.10, 95% confidence intervals: − 0.20 to − 0.01, p = 0.033). There was weak evidence of associations between both high harm avoidance and low self-directedness personality traits and greater NES symptoms.ConclusionsThis study adds to the limited research measuring associations between a range of personality traits and NES, addressing limitations of previous research. Weak evidence for an association between high harm avoidance and low self-directedness and increased NES symptoms was found. A novel association was found between low cooperativeness and greater NES symptoms. Further research is needed to validate its presence in those with and without comorbid eating disorders and to examine the relative change in NES, eating disorder symptoms and personality scores in treatments focusing on cooperativeness.Level of evidenceLevel IV (cross-sectional data from a randomised controlled trial, CTB/04/08/139).
Highlights
Night eating syndrome (NES) was first described by Stunkard in the 1950s [1], but has only gained more prominence since its introduction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association) [2] under the other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) umbrella category
Previous studies have not appropriately accounted for confounding factors, adjusting for only body mass index (BMI) and age. This may have led to biased estimates, since factors such as ethnicity and employment are associated with eating behaviours [24, 25] and personality traits [26]. To address these limitations and further investigate the associations between personality traits and NES, the current study investigated the crosssectional association between a range of personality traits and NES symptoms in a sample of treatment-seeking women with binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa, adjusting for multiple confounders, whilst using a dimensional measure of night eating
There was a novel finding of an association between low cooperativeness and higher NES symptoms, and support for previously identified associations between high harm avoidance and low self-directedness and increased NES symptoms for women with bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED)
Summary
Night eating syndrome (NES) was first described by Stunkard in the 1950s [1], but has only gained more prominence since its introduction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association) [2] under the other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) umbrella category. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of night eating defined as eating more than 25% of one’s daily caloric intake after awakening from sleep or after the evening meal, not better explained by external influences, social norms, another psychiatric disorder, medical disorder or effect of medication. Previous research suggests that the presence of NES comorbid with other eating disorders, such as BED, increases impairment, such as anxiety [6]
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