DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

The clinical variables of anxiety and depression were explored as mood and its regulation
are important in eating disorders. Furthermore, inflexibility has been found to cause and
maintain anxiety (Kashdan et al, 2006). They have been implicated in the aetiology of all
eating disorders and often found to present comorbidly (e.g. Killen et al., 1996; Stice et
al, 2001, Polivy et al, 2002, Sim et al, 2004). A significant association was found
between inflexibility and the variables of anxiety and depression so that higher
inflexibility was found to be associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression
(medium effect sizes).
A negative association was also found between depression and anxiety and acceptance of
body image. This is as was hypothesised and as would be suggested in ACT as
inflexibility is a process that is not only implicated in eating disorders but also in
depression and anxiety. If an individual displays inflexibility they are more at risk of
developing an ED, a mood disorder or to present comorbidly, as inflexibility is put
forward as a transdiagnostic process. Furthermore, the high EDR group had higher levels
of depression and anxiety than those in the low EDR group indicating that those at risk of
an ED were also more likely to have anxiety and depression. Therefore, it appears that
evidence for the transdiagnostic significance of the process of emotional inflexibility has
been further accrued and will be discussed further below.
Relation of BMI to clinical variables including EDR
Regarding BMI in relation to inflexibility, body image acceptance and anxiety, no
significant differences between the underweight and overweight BMI groups as
compared to the healthy group were found. This suggests that inflexibility and lack of
acceptance towards ones body image as well as anxiety can be found in all shapes and
sizes. Body image dissatisfaction appears common across the BMI’s, with female
adolescents disliking their bodies regardless of objective size. This is as Sandoz et al,
(2006) suggests, stating that body image dissatisfaction represents normative discontent
in today’s Western society.
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