Year
2020
Season
Spring
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Christopher Leone
Second Advisor
Dr. Paul Fuglestad
Abstract
In the univariate model of self-monitoring, individuals are categorized as either high or low self-monitors. In the bivariate model of self-monitoring, individuals differ with respect to two dimensions, namely acquisitive and protective self-monitoring. Self-monitoring, in both conceptions, is related to physical and mental health characteristics including higher weight, external cue sensitivity, and neuroticism. The aforementioned characteristics are also present in individuals with binge eating disorder. We predicted individuals higher in protective self-monitoring and univariate high self-monitoring would exhibit greater binge eating disorder symptomatology than would individuals lower in both conceptions of self-monitoring. We also predicted internalized weight stigma would mediate this relationship and incorporated neuroticism as a control variable. Three mediation analyses (one for each of the conceptions of self-monitoring) were completed with self-monitoring as a predictor variable, internalized weight stigma as a mediator, binge eating as an outcome variable, and neuroticism as a control variable. Mediation was not found. In our exploratory analysis, we tested neuroticism as a moderator and discovered that there was moderated-mediation. As individuals’ protective self-monitoring status increased, so did their propensity to binge eat as mediated by stigmatizing beliefs about their body size. This mediated effect was only true for individuals moderately or highly neurotic. Limitations (i.e., lack of causal inference, self-report) and future directions (i.e., longitudinal study, obtain sample from clinical psychologists) were discussed.
Suggested Citation
Kantor, Arielle Catherine, "Self-Monitoring, Binge Eating Disorder, Internalized WEight STigma and Neuroticism: A Moderated-Mediation Model" (2020). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 947.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/947