Spontaneous Emotion Regulation in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the usage of spontaneous emotion regulation in eating disorders (ED). After watching a sad film clip, women with anorexia nervosa (n = 42), bulimia nervosa (n = 40), and a non-ED control group (n = 41) indicated on visual analogue scales to what extent they had used emotional acceptance, reappraisal, rumination and suppression to cope with their emotions during the film clip. Results revealed no differences between the groups with regard to levels of reappraisal. However, both ED groups used rumination and suppression to a greater extent, and acceptance to a lesser extent, than the non-ED control group. ED severity was predicted by spontaneous rumination and suppression. Results suggest that—when not instructed—individuals with anorexia and bulimia nervosa have a greater tendency to engage in maladaptive emotion regulation. In particular, spontaneous rumination and suppression seem to be closely related to ED pathology.