E-ISSN : 2733-4538
Affect labeling refers to naming one’s emotional experiences, which has proven to be a helpful strategy in down-regulating negative emotion. This study aimed to examine the effects of affect labeling on reducing emotion-induced eating among individuals with bulimic symptoms. Forty-two female undergraduates with bulimic tendencies were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: affect labeling (AL; n=14), cognitive reappraisal (CR; n=13), or psychological education (PE; n=15). Following treatment, an impromptu speech task was given in order to induce anxiety, and participants were instructed to use the previously learned strategy during the speech task. Subsequently, a bogus taste test was conducted with high-carbohydrate snacks, and snack intake (kcal) was calculated as a measure of anxiety-induced eating behaviors. Results showed that both the AL and CR groups reported lower speech anxiety and consumed less snacks, as compared to the PE group. Furthermore, the AL group consumed even less snacks than the CR group. These results suggest that, while both AL and CR are effective in reducing anxiety-induced eating behaviors, AL may be more effective than CR. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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