Affective Dynamics before and after Restrictive Eating Behaviour: An EMA Study

The present study investigates the association between emotions and dysfunctional restrictive eating-related behaviors in everyday life. Using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) design over a two-week period, participants repeatedly report their eating behavior and momentary emotional states via smartphone-based assessments. The study focuses on restrictive eating and its relationship with both negative and positive emotions. Specifically, it examines whether heightened negative emotions predict subsequent restrictive eating and whether restrictive eating is associated with subsequent increases in positive emotional states, potentially forming reinforcing feedback loops. Overall, the study aims to advance understanding of the emotional processes underlying disordered eating behavior in naturalistic settings.