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Observational Study
. 2021 Feb;26(1):181-190.
doi: 10.1007/s40519-019-00838-x. Epub 2020 Jan 1.

The ecological validity of trait-level rumination measures among women with binge eating symptoms

Kathryn E Smith  1   2 , Katherine Schaumberg  3 , Erin E Reilly  4 , Lisa M Anderson  5 , Lauren M Schaefer  6 , Robert Dvorak  7 , Ross D Crosby  6   8 , Stephen A Wonderlich  6   8
Affiliations
Observational Study

The ecological validity of trait-level rumination measures among women with binge eating symptoms

Kathryn E Smith et al. Eat Weight Disord. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: Cognitive rumination is a transdiagnostic construct that has been increasingly studied in the context of eating disorders (EDs). While this literature has consistently linked trait-level general and ED-specific forms of rumination to ED psychopathology, it is not clear whether trait-level measures are independently related to symptoms in daily life. Therefore, the present study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess the ecological validity of trait measures of general rumination and ED-specific rumination, and assess the degree to which ruminative brooding and reflection were differentially related to relevant momentary affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes.

Methods: Forty women completed baseline measures (Ruminative Response Scale [RRS] and Ruminative Response Scale for Eating Disorders [RRSED]) followed by a 10-day EMA protocol.

Results: Generalized estimating equations indicated trait-level ED-specific rumination was related to momentary general and ED-specific rumination, and trait-level general and ED-specific rumination were related to momentary affect and concentration difficulties. Trait-level general rumination was related to momentary self-discrepancy, while higher trait-level ED-specific rumination was related to greater loss of control eating, overeating, and body dissatisfaction. Lastly, trait levels of ruminative brooding, compared to reflection, were more consistently related to maladaptive momentary symptoms (i.e., general rumination, negative affect, concentration problems, body dissatisfaction).

Conclusion: Together these findings support the ecological validity of the RRSED and identify shared and unique momentary correlates of the RRS and RRSED. Results also highlight the importance of measuring and addressing trait- and state-level ruminative processes that are both general and specific to ED psychopathology in research and clinical work.

Level of evidence: Level V, observational descriptive study.

Keywords: Eating disorders; Ecological momentary assessment; Ecological validity; Rumination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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