Disordered eating behaviours and basic psychological need satisfaction: the mediating role of anxiety symptoms in preadolescents

Marshall, Tess E., Thomas, Kai S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7584-2881, Weinstein, Netta ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2200-6617 and Vanderwert, Ross ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2280-8401 2024. Disordered eating behaviours and basic psychological need satisfaction: the mediating role of anxiety symptoms in preadolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 34 (1-3) , pp. 42-52. 10.2989/17280583.2023.2277763

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (721kB) | Preview

Abstract

Objective: According to self-determination theory, satisfied basic psychological needs can be a protective factor for psychopathology, including eating disorders and anxiety symptomatology. However, most research has focused on adolescent and adult populations, with less work examining perceived basic psychological need satisfaction from parents in younger samples who report anxiety and disordered eating. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether basic psychological need satisfaction from parents was associated with disordered eating in preadolescents and whether anxiety mediated this relation. Method: A total of 211 preadolescents were recruited from primary schools across south Wales (mean age = 10.27 years, age range = 9–11 years; 49.3% female). Children completed self-report questionnaires on their basic psychological need satisfaction when with parents, as well as disordered eating and anxiety symptoms. Results: It was found that higher needs satisfaction was associated with lower disordered eating and anxiety, with stronger relations found in girls compared with boys. Furthermore, anxiety was found to mediate this relationship. Conclusions: Results suggest that basic psychological needs satisfaction may play an important role in the early emergence of co-occurring disordered eating and anxiety symptoms in boys and girls. The importance of considering anxiety symptoms in future work investigating needs satisfaction in the context of disordered eating and eating disorders is discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1728-0583
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 November 2023
Date of Acceptance:	26 October 2023
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2024 11:05
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/163927

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item