Do disordered eating tendencies predict changes in affect and weight gain concern after receiving health-related compliments? : the role of valence of interpretation

Abstract

The cognitive-interpersonal model of eating disorders (EDs) posits that those with ED tendencies interpret ambiguous social information in a biased and negative way, contributing to the development and maintenance of their illness (Ambwani et al., 2016; Bronstein et al., 2022; Treasure & Schmidt, 2013). Empirical evidence corroborates that negative commentaries on body and weight were associated with increased negative affect, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors (Compeau & Ambwani, 2013; Mills & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, 2016). However, the current body of research is skewed in focus of disparaging comments explicitly related to body and weight (e.g., Chng & Fassnacht, 2016; Furman & Thompson, 2002; Marcos et al., 2013; Menzel et al., 2010; Rodgers et al., 2009). Investigations into the impact of positive body comments are noticeably less common (e.g., Barbeau et al., 2022), and research on the effects of positive compliments not directly focused on body (e.g., implicit, health-related compliments that are only tangentially related to body and weight) is even more scarce. As such, the present study sought to examine the particular effects of health-related compliments on negative affect (NA) and weight gain concern (WGC) in relation to disordered eating tendencies (EAT). Whether negative interpretation of the compliment (NI) mediated its effects on the two outcomes was also investigated. An experiment was conducted on a community sample of 214 females in Hong Kong. In a staged scenario of an in-person cafe customer survey, participants were given a general health-related compliment amidst a decoy task, and questionnaires were completed before and after the exposure. Findings indicated that the current sample of primarily healthy individuals experienced improved NA and no change in WGC after receiving the health-related compliment. However, EAT was indeed significantly associated with NI of the compliment, and NI significantly mediated its effects on greater increases in NA. Further studies can deepen current understanding of the specific effects health-related compliments may have on clinical ED populations, thereby facilitating effective treatment and prevention strategies. Continued focus on cognitive appraisal and interpersonal communication can also empower loved ones and caretakers of those struggling with disordered eating tendencies, and aid careful formulation and delivery of health-related messages.