2 - (SYM 126) Repetitive Negative Thinking Predicts Momentary Eating Disorder Behaviors Among Individuals with Eating Disorders

Repetitive negative thinking has been defined as excessive thinking about current concerns, problems, past experiences, or worries about the future. Repetitive negative thinking is a transdiagnostic process that is commonly found across several psychological disorders, including eating disorders, and exacerbates psychopathology. This study harnessed EMA to examine the role of momentary repetitive negative thinking in the prediction of eating disorder behaviors. The study sample included 66 individuals with eating disorders. Participants completed daily EMA (4 random prompts) for one week. One month after completing EMA, participants completed a measure of eating disorder symptoms. Momentary repetitive negative thinking was assessed with items adapted from the State Version of the Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire, and momentary eating disorder symptoms were assessed with items adapted from the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Eating disorder symptoms at follow-up were assessed with the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Multilevel models with random intercepts and slopes were conducted.  Time varying predictors were disaggregated into their mean levels across all assessments and their deviation, at each assessment, from their mean. We found that: (1) Higher momentary repetitive negative thinking predicted higher subsequent weighing (d = .29, p < .001) and body checking (d = .23, p < .001); and (2) Higher momentary meal-specific repetitive negative thinking predicted higher subsequent weighing (d = .24, p < .001) and lower subsequent compensatory behavior (d = -.16, p < .001). We also found that higher repetitive negative thinking predicted higher eating disorder symptoms at one-month follow-up (ps < .05). Findings suggest that there are short-term and long-term negative effects of repetitive negative thinking in the eating disorders. Targeting repetitive negative thinking may be important for decreasing eating disorder behaviors.