Identifying Mechanisms that Predict Obesity Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

描述（由申请人提供）：在年轻人中，饮食失控（LOC）与饮食病理和一般社会心理问题和心理症状的增加有关，1-6并可预测体重增加7和饮食病理恶化，包括完全综合征暴食症8青春期女孩的LOC进食率很高，特别是在寻求治疗的样本中，其流行率估计约为30%。2,11,12尽管存在不利的相关性，但对LOC饮食的病因知之甚少，特别是促进LOC的瞬时过程。人际关系模型是解释LOC饮食的一个假设模型，它假设人际关系问题先于并预测负面影响，而负面影响又先于并预测LOC饮食的发作迄今为止，许多关于LOC的研究都依赖于自我报告或实验室评估策略，这些策略受到参与者需要在数周或数月内总结行为的限制，或者可能无法反映自然环境中的行为。本研究的目的是在现有研究的基础上，通过动态监测来检验女孩自然环境下LOC人际模型的有效性。使用电子数字掌上电脑，研究人员将询问患有LOC的女孩在两周内全天的互动、人际关系、情绪和饮食情况。由于数据表明，无法识别和报告情绪可能在饮食失调的个体中尤为突出，因此影响将通过自我报告和心率变异性双重衡量。当前研究的具体目的包括：目的一：通过动态监测，以生态有效和时间敏感的方式检验LOC进食人际模型的可行性。目的二：评估自我报告的消极情绪与心率变异性之间的瞬间关联。目的三：评估人际关系模型的有效性，该模型假设人际关系问题先于并预测消极情绪，消极情绪先于并预测LOC进食的发作。参与者将是30名超重的青春期女孩，她们在评估前一个月报告了LOC饮食的发作。在为期两周的时间里，研究人员将利用掌上电脑分层收集女孩们的互动、人际关系、情绪和饮食情况的主观报告。心率变异性将同时监测两天。研究结果将阐明伴随LOC饮食或预测LOC饮食的社会心理和生理机制，这有可能减少整个发展过程中暴饮暴食或饮食病理的出现。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In youth, loss of control (LOC) eating is associated with increased eating pathology and general psychosocial problems and psychological symptoms,1-6 and is predictive of excess weight gain7 and worsening eating pathology including full syndrome binge eating disorder.8 Rates of LOC eating among adolescent girls are high,9, 10 especially among treatment-seeking samples in which prevalence estimates are around 30%.2, 11, 12 Despite its adverse correlates, little is known about the etiology of LOC eating, specifically, the moment-to- moment processes that promote LOC. One model hypothesized to explain LOC eating is the Interpersonal Model, which posits that interpersonal problems precede and predict negative effect, which in turn precedes and predicts episodes of LOC eating.13 Many studies of LOC to date rely on self-report or laboratory assessment strategies, which are limited by the need for participants to summarize behaviors over weeks or months, or which may not reflect behavior in the natural environment. The present study aims to extend upon knowledge from existing research by using ambulatory monitoring to examine the validity of the Interpersonal Model of LOC in girls' naturalistic settings. Using electronic digital palm top computers, girls with LOC will be queried regarding their interactions and relationships, mood, and eating episodes, as they occur throughout the day, for a period of two weeks. Because data suggest that inability to identify and report emotions may be especially salient among individuals with disordered eating, affect will be dually measured by self-report and heart rate variability. Specific Aims of the current study include the following: Aim One: To test the feasibility of examining the Interpersonal Model of LOC eating in an ecologically valid and temporally sensitive manner using ambulatory monitoring. Aim Two: To evaluate momentary associations between self-reported negative affect and heart rate variability. Aim Three: To evaluate the validity of the Interpersonal Model which hypothesizes that interpersonal problems precede and predict negative affect and that negative affect precedes and predicts episodes of LOC eating. Participants will be 30 overweight adolescent girls who report episodes of LOC eating in the month prior to assessment. Subjective-reports of girls' interactions and relationships, mood, and eating episodes will be collected at stratified intervals throughout the day for two weeks using digital palm top computers. Heart rate variability will be concurrently monitored for two days. Results will illuminate psychosocial and physiological mechanisms that may accompany or predict LOC eating, which has potential to reduce the emergence of binge eating or eating pathology throughout development.