There is no such thing as a mindful binge: How mindfulness disrupts the pathway between anxiety and impulsivity on maladaptive eating behaviours

Abstract

Research using the Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) to investigate the individual differences in overconsumption of food has consistently found those who over-consume to be higher in conflict sensitivity (i.e., Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS)) and impulsivity than those who do not overconsume. However, the exact mechanisms through which these individual differences operate, and the identification of potential protective factors that may disrupt such pathways are not clear. The current study tested the moderating role of impulsivity and trait mindfulness in the pathway between BIS and two types of overconsumption; binge eating and grazing. Undergraduate students (n = 245, M = 22.48 years of age, SD = 8.95, 77% female) completed self-report measures of RST, trait mindfulness, binge eating symptoms, and grazing symptoms. Results showed that impulsivity moderated the pathway between BIS and both binge eating and grazing. With mindfulness included in the model, a two-way interaction was found for binge eating, and a three-way interaction was found for grazing. Results suggest the effect of trait mindfulness on the BIS/impulsivity pathway is unique for differing severities of overconsumption, and that RST systems, trait mindfulness and target behaviours may be worthy of consideration when selecting intervention modalities.