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Rumination mediates the relationship between peer alienation and eating pathology in young adolescent girls

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

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined whether rumination, the tendency to passively and repeatedly dwell on negative events, mediated the relationship between peer alienation and eating disorder symptoms among adolescent girls.

Methods

Participants included 101 girls (ages 10–14; 47 % Hispanic, 24 % African American) who completed questionnaires regarding peer relationships, symptoms of eating pathology, rumination, and depressive symptoms.

Results

Girls who reported experiencing more peer alienation reported a higher degree of pathological eating symptoms. The relationship between peer alienation and eating pathology was mediated by rumination, even after controlling for depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

This study extends previous work indicating that rumination is a cognitive mechanism that may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of eating pathology. The findings suggest that adolescents who feel alienated by their peers might be particularly susceptible to engaging in ruminative thinking that can lead to or exacerbate eating problems.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Christine Cha, Emily Lechner, Keneisha Sinclair, Gina Torcasso, and Andrew Jacobson for their help with this study. The authors thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars program for its financial support.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Lawrence University, 711 E. Boldt Way SPC 24, Appleton, WI, 54911, USA

    Lori M. Hilt

  2. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Christina A. Roberto

  3. Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Susan Nolen-Hoeksema

Authors
  1. Lori M. Hilt
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  2. Christina A. Roberto
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  3. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lori M. Hilt.

Additional information

Christina Roberto is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar.

We were saddened by the loss of Susan Nolen-Hoeksema who passed away before this paper went to press.

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Hilt, L.M., Roberto, C.A. & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. Rumination mediates the relationship between peer alienation and eating pathology in young adolescent girls. Eat Weight Disord 18, 263–267 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0042-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-013-0042-y

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