Positive Emotion Dysregulation in Eating Disorders and Dysregulated Eating Behaviors

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Background

The effects of positive emotion and positive emotion dysregulation in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders and other forms of dysregulated eating behaviors are drastically understudied relative to negative emotion dysregulation processes. Yet positive emotion dysregulation has been clearly implicated as an issue involved in the eating disorders spectrum of behaviors, with positive emotion being linked to palatable food consumption, binge eating episodes, exercise behavior, and positive social interactions as a function of weight loss, to name a few examples. Major questions in the field remain regarding whether dysregulated behaviors evolve as a function of a dearth positive emotion dysregulation (e.g., eating to feel positive emotion) or whether eating behaviors are reinforced by maladaptive emotional responses (e.g., excessive positive reaction to exercise or food intake). Furthermore, positive emotion dysregulation can extend from momentary experiences into higher order domains of human function, such as perceptions of “happiness”, motivation, purpose, meaning, connection and fulfillment, all of which tend to be impaired among those with eating disorders. The purpose of this special topic is to increase the attention to and visibility of ongoing research on positive emotion dysregulation in problematic eating and relevant behaviors. Research on any topic relevant to the primary theme using any methodology will be considered.

The overall goal of this special topic is to increase focused research on the role of positive emotion dysregulation in the context of eating disorders and related maladaptive eating behaviors. To this end, we hope that submissions will advance the field by advancing the following goals:
1. Identification of novel positive emotion dysregulation processes that influence maladaptive eating behaviors, thoughts, or self-conceptualization (e.g., influence weight/shape).
2. Explore empirical protocols for laboratory-based exploration of positive emotional response among those with eating disorders or eating disordered behaviors.
3. Elucidate social facets of positive emotion dysregulation in the onset, maintenance, and conceptualization of disordered eating processes.
4. Contemplate higher-order positive emotion effects (e.g., motivation, life satisfaction, identity, positive connection) among those with eating disorders and disordered eating behavior to better understand the life context surrounding disordered eating symptoms.

The scope of the special topic includes examination of positive emotion dysregulation, eating disorders, and dysregulated eating behaviors along the lines of the following themes:
• The research addresses the issue of low positive emotion or under-responsive positive emotion in contribution to dysregulated eating behaviors and disorders. Potential topics could include anhedonia responses, under-reactivity on positive emotion tasks or neurophysiological ratings relative to controls, and/or social response paradigms.
• The research addresses over-reactivity of positive emotion as a cause or consequence of dysregulated eating behaviors, thoughts, or experiences. Possible research topics could include experimental mood inductions, qualitative reports of patient experiences or responses to eating behaviors, neurophysiological reward responses.
• The research addresses higher-order positive emotional responding among those with eating disorders or dysregulated eating behaviors. Possible examples could include exploration of motivational factors, eating disorders or behavior as a function of positive identity, or maladaptive positive social networks promoting eating disordered behavior.

The following types of manuscripts that will be considered for this special topic include: original research, systematic review, review, mini review, policy and practice review, hypothesis and theory, perspective, clinical trial, case report, and community case study. Research exploring these themes among diverse, understudied, and underrepresented populations is also highly encouraged.

Keywords: bulimia, anorexia, ARFID, obesity, maladaptive exercise, purging, eating disorders

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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