(PS10-51) Self-as-Context Mediates Psychological Flexibility and Emotional Eating Behavior

Abstract Text: Research has established important links between psychological flexibility (PF) and eating behaviors, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear (Deci & Ryan, 2012). A promising candidate for explaining this connection is self-as-context (SAC), a core process of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). SAC refers to a flexible sense of self that is grounded in awareness of the self as an observer (Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 2011). This flexible self-concept has been linked with reduced psychological distress and increased behavioral flexibility (Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 2011). Despite these findings, the role of SAC in mediating the relationship between psychological flexibility and eating behavior has yet to be explored. PF, as assessed by the Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index (PPFI), refers to the ability to adapt one’s thoughts and behaviors to changing circumstances (Kashdan et al., 2020). The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) assesses emotional, externally influenced, and restrained eating (van Strein, 2020). This study examines whether SAC, as measured by the Self-as-Context Scale (SACS) and Self Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ), mediates the relationship between PF and emotional eating behavior via the DEBQ-E.


Method: A sample of 1,350 students and community participants recruited via SONA and Prolific Academic completed the following assessments: SACS, SEQ, PPFI and DEBQ. Two mediation analyses were conducted using the Hayes PROCESS Macro with bootstrapping (Hayes, 2012).


Results: Analyses indicated significant intercorrelations between PF, SAC, and emotional eating behaviors (all p’s < 0.001). Indirect effects, with SACS and SEQ as mediators, were also significant (SACS 95% CI: -0.068, -0.018; SEQ 95% CI: -0.077, -0.020).


Discussion: Two independent sets of analyses with separate measures of SAC suggest that SAC mediates the relationship between psychological flexibility and problematic eating behavior. Further exploration of self-as-context as a mediator through which low PF may produce emotional eating behavior, and as a potential mechanism of change, is supported.