Experimentally-induced success and failure in bulimic and nonbulimic women: cognitive and affective responses

Two studies were conducted to investigate psychological features of bulimia. Both studies focused on cognitive variables; additionally, the second study included affective variables. ln Study I, 569 students were screened with questionnaires. Based on correspondence of questionnaire items to DSM-III criteria, 20 bulimic women were selected, along with 20 matching, nonbulimic women as a control group. These 40 subjects were assigned randomly to either a success or failure condition, in which their ”performance” on laboratory tasks was predetermined by very easy or impossible tasks, respectively. Standardized feedback statements, positive or critical, were issued during the experiments. Before, in the middle of, and after the experiment, subjects completed rating forms of expectancy and generalized self-efficacy; also, they completed attribution ratings at the middle point and end of the experiment. Results indicated lower generalized self-efficacy and slightly higher persistence in bulimics. ln Study ll, 1526 students were screened and, using similar but more stringent criteria, 26 bulimics were selected along with 26 controls. Study II incorporated similar procedures as Study l, but added the assessment of: self-efficacy to solve the tasks, performance satisfaction, self-statements, and measures of four affective dimensions: general depression, and situational anxiety, depression, and hostility. Results indicated that bulimics had lower self-efficacy to solve the tasks, lower generalized self-efticacy, greater maladaptive self-statements, and higher levels of all affective variables. No differences were found between bulimics and controls with respect to attributions, performance satisfaction, or expectancy. These data are congruent with a cognitive social learning perspective of bulimia, and they suggest that lowered confidence in specific abilities and certain types of self-statements operate to maintain bulimic symptoms. Furthermore, this research confirmed earlier reports in the literature regarding affective components of bulimia, especially that they are more depressed and anxious. Also noted in this research was a tendency for bulimics to experience greater mood elevation after success, and greater difficulty in recovering from situationally-induced anxiety and depression after failure, compared to nonbulimics. Future research should attend to the interrelationships among various classes of cognitions and affective variables, with respect to bulimic symptomatology.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Department dc:contributor.department

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• ReynaMcGlone, Cynthia Lu

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ollendick, Thomas H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Boskind-White, MarIene
• Clum, George A.
• Tessnear, Marshall D.
• Winett, Richard A.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/49877

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/49877