SPT-Fall2014
SPT-Fall2014
SPT-Fall2014
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Research in Review: A Brief Look at Current<br />
Studies in the Literature<br />
By Dawn Bhat, MA, MS, NCC<br />
Research from the fields of contemporary medicine and mental health is increasingly validating<br />
the mind-body continuum, the heart of somatic studies. Drawing from clinical and basic science,<br />
phenomenological and case studies, and literature reviews, this column is dedicated to sharing<br />
research from multiple perspectives that may potentially impact the field of body psychotherapy.<br />
Managing Mood with Food<br />
Gardner, M. P., Wansink, B., Kim, J., & Park, S.-B. (2014). Better moods for better eating?: How mood<br />
influences food choice. Journal of Consumer Psychology. doi:10.1016/j.jcps.2014.01.002<br />
j.jcps.2014.01.002<br />
The present study examined the influence mood has on food preferences. Positive mood supported the importance of<br />
long-tern goals such as health and led to greater preference for healthy foods over indulgent foods. Whereas, negative<br />
mood supported the importance of immediate, concrete goals such as mood management and led to greater preference<br />
for indulgent foods over healthy foods.<br />
The Body and Eating Patterns in Women<br />
Allen, J., Gervais, S. J., & Smith, J. L. (2013). Sit big to eat big: The interaction of body posture and body<br />
concern on restrained eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 37(3), 325–336<br />
Expanded and constricted posture moderates body image and contributes to food intake in women. Feminine<br />
stereotypes suggest women be small, restrict movements, speak softly, and limit food intake. The present study<br />
examined whether women with expanded and constricted postures moderated the relation between body image and<br />
restricted eating. As predicted, women sitting in expansive postures restrained their eating less compared to women in<br />
constrictive postures. As such, postural constriction strengthened the link between body image and restricted eating.<br />
Dawn Bhat, MA, MS, NCC, holds graduate degrees in General Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Nationally<br />
Certified Counselor. She has experience in neuropsychology and has training in somatic modalities, including Somatic Experiencing and<br />
Focusing. Dawn receives clinical supervision from and is a psychotherapy researcher under the guidance of Jacqueline A. Carleton, Ph.D. of the<br />
USABP. Feel free to reach Dawn: dawn.bhat@gmail.com.<br />
Somatic Psychotherapy Today | Fall 2014 | Volume 4 Number 2 | page 96