Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/167623
Author(s): Sofia Dias Medina
Title: PRELIMINARY EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EMOTION REGULATION-FOCUSED INTERVENTION IN PREVENTING PROBLEMATIC EATING BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENTS: A PILOT STUDY
Issue Date: 2025-07-09
Description: Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental stage marked by significant physical, hormonal, and psychological changes, during which disordered eating may arise as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are linked to restrictive and overeating patterns, with stronger associations to the latter in community samples, increasing the risk of persistent behavioral problems and impairments in health and psychosocial development. Recognizing ER as a transdiagnostic factor is crucial for early promotion of functional coping behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) shows potential in addressing ER deficits and decreasing problematic eating behaviors. This study evaluated the effectiveness of BITE, a four-week DBT-based school intervention targeting ER to prevent problematic eating behaviors, in a sample of 48 adolescents (intervention group, n = 27; control group, n = 21) aged 15-18, using a non-randomized controlled trial design. ER and eating behaviors were measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire - Revised 21-item (TFEQ-R21). Repeated measures ANOVAs showed improvements in ER and reductions in maladaptive eating, particularly emotional eating, in the intervention group compared to controls. These findings highlight the potential of ER-focused interventions to prevent problematic eating during adolescence and support the feasibility and effectiveness of BITE. Future research with larger samples and randomized designs is recommended to support more robust conclusions.
Subject: Psicologia
Psychology
Scientific areas: Ciências sociais::Psicologia
Social sciences::Psychology
TID identifier: 204078997
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/167623
Document Type: Dissertação
Rights: openAccess
Appears in Collections:FPCEUP - Dissertação

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