Paula von Spreckelsen , Ineke Wessel , Klaske A. Glashouwer , Peter J. de Jong
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Disgust-based body image concerns can bias autobiographical memory towards the recall and avoidant processing of disgust-related memories of the own body. Repeated exposure to such memories may help breaking avoidance and promote the habituation of disgust, thereby lowering body concerns. Using a pre-post within-participant experimental design, we tested if repeatedly exposing women with high self-disgust (N = 61) to disgust-focused body memories vs. neutral memories led to changes in disgust, body acceptance, and reactive avoidance. Contrary to expectations, state disgust towards the body itself only decreased following exposure to neutral memories. Yet, disgust elicited by body-related memories decreased following both repeated exposure to neutral and body memories. Although acceptance was not found to significantly change in either exposure session, pre-post decreases in state disgust were associated with increases in acceptance following the disgust-focused exposure. In contrast to expectations, reactive avoidance increased from pre to post in the disgust-focused exposure. Overall, the results indicate that repeated exposure to disgust-focused body memories may help reduce disgust elicited by these memories and promote body acceptance. Yet, the effect of this repeated exposure to body memories did not extend to changing state disgust towards the body, possibly due to reactive avoidance.
期刊介绍:
The major focus of Behaviour Research and Therapy is an experimental psychopathology approach to understanding emotional and behavioral disorders and their prevention and treatment, using cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological (including neural) methods and models. This includes laboratory-based experimental studies with healthy, at risk and subclinical individuals that inform clinical application as well as studies with clinically severe samples. The following types of submissions are encouraged: theoretical reviews of mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology and that offer new treatment targets; tests of novel, mechanistically focused psychological interventions, especially ones that include theory-driven or experimentally-derived predictors, moderators and mediators; and innovations in dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices into clinical practice in psychology and associated fields, especially those that target underlying mechanisms or focus on novel approaches to treatment delivery. In addition to traditional psychological disorders, the scope of the journal includes behavioural medicine (e.g., chronic pain). The journal will not consider manuscripts dealing primarily with measurement, psychometric analyses, and personality assessment.