Papers by Stacey Kosmerly
Eating Behaviors, 2016
Stress has been associated with deviations from typical eating patterns, with respect to both foo... more Stress has been associated with deviations from typical eating patterns, with respect to both food choice and overall caloric intake. Both increases and decreases in dietary intake have been previously noted in response to stress. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the affect regulation strategies of emotional control and impulsivity predict susceptibility to eating in response to stress. Specifically, it was anticipated that emotional suppression would predict decreases in caloric intake, whereas impulsivity would predict increases in caloric intake, in response to a stressor. Method: Participants were randomly assigned to view either a video designed to elicit stress or a control video. Food was provided during the video and the amount and type of food consumed was measured. Results: Participants' nutritional intake was greater in the stress condition than in the control condition. One aspect of affect regulation, impulsivity, moderated this relationship, with a tendency for greater impulsivity to be associated with greater caloric intake in the stress condition. The degree of negative affect that participants experienced in the stress condition predicted food choice and overall caloric intake. Both emotional control and impulsivity moderated the relationship between negative affect and both food choice and caloric intake in the stress condition. Discussion: The present study highlights the importance of considering the personality attributes of both impulsivity and emotional suppression in understanding stress eating.
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 2014
The ability of individuals to recognise and regulate their emotions is known as emotion regulatio... more The ability of individuals to recognise and regulate their emotions is known as emotion regulation. It is well established that difficulties in emotion regulation are associated with disordered eating. The present study explored the relationships among gender, body mass index, difficulties in emotion regulation, and disordered eating behaviours in a nonclinical sample of men and women. As part of a larger study, men (n ϭ 85) and women (n ϭ 165) from undergraduate university programs provided weight and height information and completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the Eating Attitudes Test. Results from regression analyses suggest that, in a nonclinical sample, gender, body mass index, and specific difficulties in emotion regulation are related to disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. With respect to dieting, some of these relationships are more complex and involve interactions between BMI and both gender and impulse control.
Eating disorders, 2015
Eating disorder clinicians from various disciplines participated in one of two surveys: the "... more Eating disorder clinicians from various disciplines participated in one of two surveys: the "self" group (n = 143) completed a survey assessing the negative influence of emotions on their own clinical decisions, while the "other" group (n = 145) completed a parallel version of the survey that assessed their perceptions of the negative influence of emotion in their colleagues. Both groups endorsed this phenomenon to some degree, although differences in reporting were noted between groups. The perceived negative influence of emotion with regards to specific treatment decisions fell within three categories: decisions regarding food and weight, decisions regarding the involvement of the family in treatment, and decisions related to autonomy and control. Decisions regarding the involvement of the family were perceived to be the most emotionally charged, in particular the involvement of a critical or dismissive parent.
Objective: Clinicians have been shown to drift away from protocol in their delivery of evidence-b... more Objective: Clinicians have been shown to drift away from protocol in their delivery of evidence-based treatments. This study explores this phenomenon in the delivery of family-based therapy (FBT) for eating disorders, and the clinician characteristics that might explain such therapist drift. Method: The participants were 117 clinicians who reported using FBT for eating disorders. They completed an online survey, which included questions relating to clinician characteristics, caseload, and reported use of FBT manuals and core therapeutic tasks, as well as a measure of anxiety. Results: The use of core FBT tasks was higher than for other therapies, but there were still noteworthy gaps between recommended and reported practice. Approximately a third of clinicians reported delivering 'FBT' that deviated very substantially from evidence-based protocols, often appearing to be on an individual therapy basis. Using an FBT manual to guide treatment delivery was associated with greater adherence to recommended techniques. Clinician caseload and anxiety were associated with differences in the use of specific FBT tasks. Discussion: Consistent with previous research regarding clinicians' use of other therapies, the delivery of FBT for the eating disorders is not homogeneous. Conclusion: Further investigation of this phenomenon is needed in order to determine the impact of deviating from treatment protocols on the effectiveness of FBT for the eating disorders.
Recently, two theoretical models (the Iatrogenic Maintenance Model for Eating Disorders and the T... more Recently, two theoretical models (the Iatrogenic Maintenance Model for Eating Disorders and the Therapist Drift Model) have identified clinician emotion as a factor that may negatively influence the treatment of eating disorders (ED). However, the role of clinician emotion in the delivery of treatment remains largely unstudied. The present article-based thesis sought to examine clinicians’ perceptions of the negative influence of emotions (clinicians’ own emotions and those of others) on clinical decisions and practices with respect to child and adolescent eating disorders. Two studies were conducted to examine clinicians’ perceptions of whether, and in what ways, emotions play a role in clinical decisions and practices. Overall, clinicians endorsed some degree of negative influence of emotions on clinical decisions. Specific treatment decisions were identified as being perceived to be more vulnerable to the negative influence of emotions (e.g., decisions related to the involvement ...
The International Journal of Health, Wellness, and Society
Emotion lability and emotion regulation are critical processes that have been shown to have impor... more Emotion lability and emotion regulation are critical processes that have been shown to have important contributions in the successful development of children. While these two emotion processes are intertwined, they have been distinctly associated with a diverse range of behavioural, academic, and social outcomes. Given the important implications of these emotional processes, it is essential to understand the factors that influence the development of emotion lability and emotion regulation. The present study aimed to contribute to the current research pertaining to parents’ role in the emotional development of children through examination of maternal and paternal psychological functioning and emotion regulation as potential predictors of child emotion lability and emotion regulation. Participants included ninety-three preschool children and their parent(s). Parents completed self-report measures regarding their own emotion regulation and psychological functioning, as well as their ch...
Recently, two theoretical models (the Iatrogenic Maintenance Model for Eating Disorders and the T... more Recently, two theoretical models (the Iatrogenic Maintenance Model for Eating Disorders and the Therapist Drift Model) have identified clinician emotion as a factor that may negatively influence the treatment of eating disorders (ED). However, the role of clinician emotion in the delivery of treatment remains largely unstudied. The present article-based thesis sought to examine clinicians' perceptions of the negative influence of emotions (clinicians' own emotions and those of others) on clinical decisions and practices with respect to child and adolescent eating disorders. Two studies were conducted to examine clinicians' perceptions of whether, and in what ways, emotions play a role in clinical decisions and practices. Overall, clinicians endorsed some degree of negative influence of emotions on clinical decisions. Specific treatment decisions were identified as being perceived to be more vulnerable to the negative influence of emotions (e.g., decisions related to the involvement of a critical or dismissive parent in treatment), and particular client/parent emotional states (anger, flat affect, hopelessness or helplessness) were identified as being perceived to be more likely to lead to a negative influence of emotions on clinical decisions. Clinicians also endorsed specific concerns that they perceive to drive emotion-based decisions, as well as several emotion-driven practices. Finally, clinician characteristics related to the perceived occurrence of this phenomenon were examined.
Eating Behaviors, 2016
Stress has been associated with deviations from typical eating patterns, with respect to both foo... more Stress has been associated with deviations from typical eating patterns, with respect to both food choice and overall caloric intake. Both increases and decreases in dietary intake have been previously noted in response to stress. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the affect regulation strategies of emotional control and impulsivity predict susceptibility to eating in response to stress. Specifically, it was anticipated that emotional suppression would predict decreases in caloric intake, whereas impulsivity would predict increases in caloric intake, in response to a stressor. Participants were randomly assigned to view either a video designed to elicit stress or a control video. Food was provided during the video and the amount and type of food consumed was measured. Participants' nutritional intake was greater in the stress condition than in the control condition. One aspect of affect regulation, impulsivity, moderated this relationship, with a tendency for greater impulsivity to be associated with greater caloric intake in the stress condition. The degree of negative affect that participants experienced in the stress condition predicted food choice and overall caloric intake. Both emotional control and impulsivity moderated the relationship between negative affect and both food choice and caloric intake in the stress condition. The present study highlights the importance of considering the personality attributes of both impulsivity and emotional suppression in understanding stress eating.
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 2016
Les Cahiers Internationaux De Psychologie Sociale, Jul 1, 2014
Appetite, 2016
It is well established that stress is related to changes in eating patterns. Some individuals are... more It is well established that stress is related to changes in eating patterns. Some individuals are more likely to increase their overall food intake under conditions of stress, whereas others are more likely to consume less food when stressed. Attachment style has been linked to disordered eating and eating disorders; however, comparisons of eating behaviors under attachment versus other types of stress have yet to be explored. The present laboratory study examined the eating patterns in self-identified stress-undereaters and stress-eaters under various types of stress. More specifically, the study examined the effects of academic and attachment stress on calorie, carbohydrate and sugar consumption within these two groups. Under the guise of critiquing student films, university students viewed either one of two stress-inducing videos (academic stress or attachment stress, both designed to be emotionally arousing) or a control video (designed to be emotionally neutral), and their food intake was recorded. Results demonstrated that the video manipulations were effective in inducing stress. Differential patterns of eating were noted based on group and stress condition. Specifically, stress-undereaters ate fewer calories, carbohydrates and sugars than stress-eaters in the academic stress condition, but not in the attachment stress or control condition. Findings suggest that specific types of stressors may influence eating behaviors differently.
Les cahiers internationaux de psychologie sociale, 2014
The International journal of eating disorders, 2015
Clinicians have been shown to drift away from protocol in their delivery of evidence-based treatm... more Clinicians have been shown to drift away from protocol in their delivery of evidence-based treatments. This study explores this phenomenon in the delivery of family-based therapy (FBT) for eating disorders, and the clinician characteristics that might explain such therapist drift. The participants were 117 clinicians who reported using FBT for eating disorders. They completed an online survey, which included questions relating to clinician characteristics, caseload, and reported use of FBT manuals and core therapeutic tasks, as well as a measure of anxiety. The use of core FBT tasks was higher than for other therapies, but there were still noteworthy gaps between recommended and reported practice. Approximately a third of clinicians reported delivering "FBT" that deviated very substantially from evidence-based protocols, often appearing to be on an individual therapy basis. Using an FBT manual to guide treatment delivery was associated with greater adherence to recommended...
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 2013
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 10640266 2014 976107, Nov 17, 2014
Eating disorder clinicians from various disciplines participated in one of two surveys: the &... more Eating disorder clinicians from various disciplines participated in one of two surveys: the "self" group (n = 143) completed a survey assessing the negative influence of emotions on their own clinical decisions, while the "other" group (n = 145) completed a parallel version of the survey that assessed their perceptions of the negative influence of emotion in their colleagues. Both groups endorsed this phenomenon to some degree, although differences in reporting were noted between groups. The perceived negative influence of emotion with regards to specific treatment decisions fell within three categories: decisions regarding food and weight, decisions regarding the involvement of the family in treatment, and decisions related to autonomy and control. Decisions regarding the involvement of the family were perceived to be the most emotionally charged, in particular the involvement of a critical or dismissive parent.
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Papers by Stacey Kosmerly