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Eating expectancies and reinforcement learning: a state-based test of affect regulation and expectancy models in the natural environment

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Affect regulation and expectancy-based models suggest that improvement in affect following binge-eating (BE) episodes contributes to increased eating expectancies, which then promote BE maintenance.

Methods

The current pilot study utilized ecological momentary assessment to examine the prospective independent and interactive effects of eating reinforcement experiences [operationalized as reductions in negative affect (NA) following BE episodes] and eating expectancies on subsequent BE behavior among 17 women with recurrent BE.

Results

Greater reductions in momentary NA following a BE episode (i.e., greater reinforcement) predicted higher levels of eating expectancies on the following day. Further, current eating expectancies interacted with proximal reinforcement history to predict future BE episodes. Participants were more likely to report BE episodes on days that were characterized by higher eating expectancies and preceded immediately by a day during which they experienced greater reinforcement from BE.

Conclusion

These preliminary results are consistent with affect regulation and expectancy-based models of BE, suggesting a dynamic and potentially modifiable process of reward-based learning associated with BE behavior.

Level of evidence

Level IV, multiple time series.

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Availability of data and material

Supporting de-identified data from this study may be provided upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (grant number T32 MH082761).

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Author notes

  1. Kathryn E. Smith

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sanford Research, Center for Bio-Behavioral Research, Fargo, ND, USA

    Lauren M. Schaefer, Kathryn E. Smith, Ross D. Crosby & Stephen A. Wonderlich

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA

    Lauren M. Schaefer, Ross D. Crosby & Stephen A. Wonderlich

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Robert Dvorak

Authors
  1. Lauren M. Schaefer
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  2. Kathryn E. Smith
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  4. Ross D. Crosby
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  5. Stephen A. Wonderlich
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren M. Schaefer.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethics approval

All study procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Sanford Research.

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All study participants provided informed consent.

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All authors contributed to the study/manuscript development and have approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Schaefer, L.M., Smith, K.E., Dvorak, R. et al. Eating expectancies and reinforcement learning: a state-based test of affect regulation and expectancy models in the natural environment. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2263–2269 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01079-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01079-z

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