Partner distress in the context of anorexia nervosa: The role of patient motivation to change and partner behaviors

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Fischer, Melanie Sandy
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Abstract

Although romantic relationships can be a source of support and a stressor for individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), little is known about these relationships and the partners. This study examined patients' motivation to change and partner behaviors as predictors of partner distress in three domains (negative affect, relationship satisfaction, caregiver distress). 16 females with AN and their male partners were assessed using self-report measures of patients' motivation to change and partner outcomes. An observational coding system was developed to measure partner behaviors based on videotaped interactions of the couples. Patients' motivation to change did not predict partner distress, but partners' attempts to promote behavior changes in the patient moderated the relationship between patients' motivation to change and partners' caregiver distress. Partners also experienced lower levels of negative affect if they engaged in more accepting/validating behaviors. The findings underscore the importance of context-specific partner behaviors. Implications and future directions are discussed.

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