UNB Scholar Research Repository :: Browsing by Author "Lacroix, Emilie"

Browsing by Author "Lacroix, Emilie"

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Body image disturbance partially explains eating-related psychosocial impairment in food addiction
(Elsevier, 2021) Lacroix, Emilie; von Ranson, Kristin M.
Background This study aimed to explore the association of food addiction (FA) with eating-related psychosocial impairment and examine the extent to which this association was explained directly by FA symptoms themselves, versus through body image disturbance. Materials and methods Participants (356 university students and 544 crowdsourced adults) completed self-report measures of FA (Yale Food Addiction Scale; YFAS 2.0), psychosocial impairment (Clinical Impairment Assessment; CIA 3.0), and body image disturbance (Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire; EDE-Q 6.0), and reported their body mass index (BMI) and gender. Results Endorsement of distress and/or impairment on the YFAS corresponded to ratings on the CIA. Structural equation models indicated the relationship between FA and eating-related psychosocial impairment was partially mediated by body image disturbance. The indirect effect of body image disturbance explained more variance in eating-related psychosocial impairment than did YFAS scores themselves. Neither BMI nor gender significantly moderated any direct or indirect pathways from food addiction to psychosocial impairment. Conclusions Food addiction is associated with clinical impairment in men and women across the weight spectrum. A large portion of psychosocial impairment associated with food addiction may be explained by body image disturbance. Due to its role in explaining psychosocial impairment, body image disturbance warrants increased attention in FA research.
Conceptualizing addictive-like eating: A qualitative analysis
(Elsevier, 2019-06) Paterson, Carley; Lacroix, Emilie; von Ranson, Kristin M.
Debates regarding addictive-like eating have generated several conceptualizations of this construct. Qualitative research helps ensure that conceptualizations capture how individuals may experience addictive-like eating. In this study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with ten participants who identified themselves as addicted to food, or to food and eating, to determine how they conceptualized their addictive-like eating. Using thematic analysis, we identified four themes: (1) Social Environment, describing how past and present social environments affected addictive-like eating; (2) Situational Cues, encompassing situational contributions to addictive-like eating; (3) Persistent Cognitions, including preoccupation with food and loss of control; and (4) Impact of Weight, encompassing weight gain and its perceived impact on health, body image, and distress. Participants described properties specific to their preferred foods, as well as environmental and cognitive factors contributing to addictive-like eating. These descriptions were not completely captured by either the substance-based “food addiction” or behavioural “eating addiction” frameworks, though characteristics consistent with both were present. Further, existing scales of addictive-like eating do not assess the impact of social and situational cues, suggesting a need for new or revised measures. We propose a working definition of addictive-like eating that incorporates the characteristics described.
Evaluating an abbreviated three-factor version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in three samples
(Elsevier, 2018-11) Tobin, Leah N.; Lacroix, Emilie; von Ranson, Kristin M.
A brief, three-factor structure for the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) has been identified that has stronger psychometric properties than the original four-factor EDE-Q structure. However, there is a need for independent replication of the brief version in different samples, and examination of how comparable the brief version is in women and men of diverse ages. This study compared factor structure fit and other psychometric properties between the original and brief versions in three independent samples of adults to evaluate the reliability and validity of this brief version. It also examined measurement invariance across gender in a middle-aged community sample. Participants included university women (N = 659), university women and men (N = 358), and crowdsourced community women and men (N = 544). Across samples, compared to the original version the brief version demonstrated greater internal consistency, somewhat less item overlap, and superior model fit in confirmatory factor analyses, although some fit indices fell below recommended cut-offs. Separate confirmatory factor analyses of the brief version in community women and men suggested the brief version may better fit community men than women, and measurement invariance across gender for the brief version was not supported for the community sample. This independent replication supports the factorial validity of the brief version in three samples of students and crowdsourced community adults, and highlights the importance of further examination of the psychometric properties of this brief three-factor version across gender and age categories, among others sample characteristics.
Lived Experience and Defining Addictive-Like Eating: a Synthesis of Qualitative Research
(Springer, 2020) Lacroix, Emilie; von Ranson, Kristin M.
Purpose of Review Addictive-like eating has engendered much controversy, in part because it has been ill-defined. Qualitative research has described individuals’ experiences and definitions of addictive-like eating, providing insights about its central features. The aim of the present review was to synthesize the latest qualitative research on addictive-like eating, to identify features that are common across individuals’ experiences. We sought to understand how people with lived experience of addictive-like eating define and conceptualize this phenomenon, to answer the question, “What is addictive-like eating?” We conducted this review using qualitative meta-synthesis methodology. Searches of four databases identified 13 English-language qualitative studies of addictive-like eating or food addiction. After assessing research quality, we retained seven articles focused on lived experiences and definitions of addictive-like eating or food addiction, published between 2014 and 2019. Recent Findings Themes identified included, in order of descending frequency and prominence in representation within lived experiences, loss of control over eating, psychological and functional preoccupation, emotional eating and shame, health- and weight-related distress, consequences of addictive-like eating, and role of context and food environment. Overall, we observed only modest alignment between lived experiences of addictive-like eating and DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria. Summary Lived experiences and views of addictive-like eating differ substantially and meaningfully from substance use disorder criteria and related measures. We propose a working definition of addictive-like eating for use in future study of this construct, and, particularly, scale development efforts that adequately represent the breadth, depth, and weighting of addictive-like eating features.
Moving beyond the “eating addiction” versus “food addiction” debate: Comment on Schulte et al. (2017)
(Elsevier, 2018) Lacroix, Emilie; Tavares, Hermano; von Ranson, Kristin M.
In a recent commentary, Schulte et al. (2017) argued that addictive-like eating should be conceptualized as a substance use disorder rather than a behavioural addiction, and noted that many parallels that Hebebrand et al. (2014) drew between addictive-like eating and behavioural addictions apply likewise to substance use disorders. However, we argue that many of the arguments advanced by Schulte et al. (2017) in support of a substance-based food addiction model, including the important role played by ingested substances, are nonspecific. That is, these arguments apply equally well to behavioural addictions and other mental disorders, notably eating disorders, which raises the question of whether the phenomenon of addictive-like eating is encompassed by existing eating disorder diagnoses. Similarities between addictive-like eating and substance use, no matter how compelling, do not ensure the validity or clinical utility of a substance-based food addiction model and should not drive the conceptualization of addictive-like eating. The present commentary discusses problems with Schulte et al.’s (2017) arguments for substance-based food addiction, and draws attention to alternative conceptualizations of addictive-like eating which risk being overlooked when this conversation is framed as a dichotomous debate between the food and eating addiction models.
One size does not fit all: Trajectories of body image development and their predictors in early adolescence
(Cambridge University Press, 2020) Lacroix, Emilie; Atkinson, Melissa J.; Garbett, Kirsty M.; Diedrichs, Phillippa C.
Background: Negative body image predicts many adverse outcomes. The current study prospectively examined patterns of body esteem development in early adolescence and identified predictors of developmental subtypes. Methods: 328 girls and 429 boys reported annually across a 4-year period (Mage at baseline = 11.14, SD = 0.35) on body esteem, appearance ideal internalization, perceived sociocultural pressures, appearance comparisons, appearance-related teasing, self-esteem, positive and negative affect, and dietary restraint. We performed latent class growth analyses to identify the most common trajectories of body esteem development and examine risk and protective factors for body image development. Results: Three developmental subgroups were identified: (a) high body esteem (39.1%); (b) moderate body esteem (46.1%); and (c) low body esteem (14.8%). Body esteem was stable within the low trajectory and there were minor fluctuations in the high and moderate trajectories. Greater appearance-related teasing, lower self-esteem, less positive affect, and higher dietary restraint predicted the low trajectory, whereas higher self-esteem and lower dietary restraint best predicted the high trajectory. Conclusions: Low body esteem appears to be largely stable from age 11 years. Prevention programming may be enhanced by incorporating components to address transdiagnostic resilience factors such as self-esteem and positive affect.
Prevalence of social, cognitive, and emotional impairment among individuals with food addiction
(Springer, 2020) Lacroix, Emilie; von Ranson, Kristin M.
Purpose The clinical utility of the construct of food addiction has been heavily debated. Though food addiction has been associated with psychosocial impairment in clinical samples, it is critical to examine these associations in non-clinical samples, to obtain unbiased evidence regarding this phenomenon’s clinical significance. It is also unknown which types of impairment are most common in food addiction. This observational study explored the association of self-reported food addiction with impairment in the domains of social, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Methods Participants (356 university students and 544 adults recruited through Mechanical Turk) completed the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and Clinical Impairment Assessment 3.0 questionnaire, as well as measures of emotional eating, reward-driven eating, binge eating, and general disordered eating. Results Food addiction scores showed large correlations with emotional (r = 0.55, 0.57), social (r = 0.56, 0.59), and cognitive impairment (r = 0.58, 0.53) in the student and Mechanical Turk samples, respectively. The most common difficulties endorsed were emotional (e.g., feeling ashamed or critical of oneself, upset, or worried due to one’s eating habits), followed by social and cognitive. Conclusion Food addiction was strongly associated with psychosocial impairment in two non-clinical samples, suggesting this phenomenon merits further investigation. We found substantial associations of food addiction with emotional as well as social and cognitive impairment.
Scope and ethics of psychologists’ use of client testimonials on professional websites
(American Psychological Association, 2018) Lacroix, Emilie; Dobson, Keith S.; von Ranson, Kristin M.
Background: Testimonials are statements on behalf of current or former clients that may comment on the abilities, qualifications, or personal characteristics of a health care provider, or attest to outcomes experienced after receipt of services. Although the use of client testimonials in promotional materials is prohibited by both the Canadian Psychological Association Practice Guidelines and by guidelines or legislation in a majority of provinces, a portion of registered psychologists’ professional websites may still display client testimonials or link to third-party provider rating sites (e.g., RateMDs.com, Yelp.ca). With little oversight by governing bodies, the scope of this practice is unknown. This article examines how often testimonials appear on the websites of Canadian psychologists and group practices, and discusses ethical guidelines and issues surrounding this practice. Method: We examined the professional websites of practicing registered psychologists (N = 433) selected from the provincial directories of five provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec). Results: Of sampled websites, 4.2% included client testimonials, 1.2% explicitly solicited testimonials, and 1.4% included links to external provider rating websites. Of the testimonials displayed on psychologists’ websites, 38.9% contained potentially identifying information. Conclusions: Client testimonials are used by psychologists in Canada despite national guidelines against this practice. Although clients who provide anonymous testimonials are unlikely to be harmed by this practice, there is still a risk of harm occurring. Furthermore, because testimonials represent a highly biased source of information, their use may reflect poorly on the psychology profession.
The Clinical Utility of Food Addiction: Characteristics and Psychosocial Impairments in a Treatment-Seeking Sample
(MDPI, 2020) Oliveira, Edgar; Kim, Hyoun S.; Lacroix, Emilie; de Fátima Vasques, Mária; Ruiz Durante, Cristiane; Pereira, Daniela; Rico Cabral, Janice; Sanches Bernstein, Paula; Garcia, Ximena; Ritchie, Emma V.; Tavares, Hermano
Little is known about the characteristics of individuals seeking treatment for food addiction (FA), and the clinical utility of FA has yet to be established. To address these gaps, we examined (i) the demographic, eating pathology, and psychiatric conditions associated with FA and (ii) whether FA is associated with psychosocial impairments when accounting for eating-related and other psychopathology. Forty-six patients seeking treatment for FA completed self-report questionnaires and semi-structured clinical interviews. The majority of the sample were women and self-identified as White, with a mean age of 43 years. Most participants (83.3%) presented with a comorbid psychiatric condition, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders, with a mean of 2.31 comorbid conditions. FA was associated with binge eating severity and anxiety symptoms, as well as psychological, physical, and social impairment. In regression analyses controlling for binge eating severity, food cravings, depression, and anxiety, FA remained a significant predictor only of social impairment. Taken together, the results suggest that individuals seeking treatment for FA are likely to present with significant comorbid conditions, in particular anxiety disorders. The results of the present research provide evidence for the clinical utility of FA, particularly in explaining social impairment.
The need to consume: Hoarding as a shared psychological feature of compulsive buying and binge eating
(Elsevier, 2018) de Mattos, Cristiana Nicoli; Kim, Hyoun S.; Lacroix, Emilie; Requião, Marinalva; Zambrano Filomensky, Tatiana; Hodgins, David C.; Tavares, Hermano
Introduction Compulsive buying and binge eating are two frequently co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Hoarding, which is the psychological need to excessively gather and store items, is frequently associated with both compulsive buying severity and binge eating severity. In the present study, we explored whether different dimensions of hoarding are a shared feature of compulsive buying and binge eating. Method Participants consisted of 434 people seeking treatment for compulsive buying disorder. Registered psychiatrists confirmed the diagnosis of compulsive buying through semi-structured clinical interviews. Participants also completed measures to assess compulsive buying severity, binge eating severity, and dimensions of hoarding (acquisition, difficulty discarding, and clutter). Two-hundred and seven participants completed all three measures. Results Significant correlations were found between compulsive buying severity and the acquisition dimension of hoarding. Binge eating severity was significantly correlated with all three dimensions of hoarding. Hierarchical regression analysis found that compulsive buying severity was a significant predictor of binge eating severity. However, compulsive buying severity no longer predicted binge eating severity when the dimensions of hoarding were included simultaneously in the model. Clutter was the only subscale of hoarding to predict binge eating severity in step two of the regression analysis. Conclusion Our results suggest that the psychological need to excessively gather and store items may constitute a shared process that is important in understanding behaviors characterized by excessive consumption such as compulsive buying and binge eating.
Treatment of food addiction: preliminary results
(Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 2020) de Oliveira, Edgar Luis Lima; Lacroix, Emilie; Stravogiannis, Andrea Lorena Costa; de Fátima Vasques, Maria; Durante, Cristiane Ruiz; Duran, Érica Panzani; Pereira, Daniela; Cabral, Janice Rico; Tavares, Hermano
There has been an increase in the number of publications using the term food addiction (FA), with many animal and humans neuroimaging studies demonstrating similarities between food and drugs of abuse1,2. FA is most often assessed with the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), a questionnaire which directly applies DSM-IV-TR substance dependence criteria to food and eating2. Although FA is not an official diagnosis, YFAS scores are associated with eating disorders, depression, emotion dysregulation and lower self-esteem3, suggesting a need to target these symptoms in treatment.
Weight Bias: A Systematic Review of Characteristics and Psychometric Properties of Self-Report Questionnaires
(Karger Publishers, 2017) Lacroix, Emilie; Alberga, Angela; Russell-Mathew, Shelly; McLaren, Lindsay; von Ranson, Kristin
People living with overweight and obesity often experience weight-based stigmatization. Investigations of the prevalence and correlates of weight bias and evaluation of weight bias reduction interventions depend upon psychometrically-sound measurement. Our paper is the first to comprehensively evaluate the psychometric properties, use of people-first language within items, and suitability for use with various populations of available self-report measures of weight bias. We searched five electronic databases to identify English-language self-report questionnaires of weight bias. We rated each questionnaire's psychometric properties based on initial validation reports and subsequent use, and examined item language. Our systematic review identified 40 original self-report questionnaires. Most questionnaires were brief, demonstrated adequate internal consistency, and tapped key cognitive and affective dimensions of weight bias such as stereotypes and blaming. Current psychometric evidence is incomplete for many questionnaires, particularly with regard to the properties of test-retest reliability, sensitivity to change as well as discriminant and structural validity. Most questionnaires were developed prior to debate surrounding terminology preferences, and do not employ people-first language in the items administered to participants. We provide information and recommendations for clinicians and researchers in selecting psychometrically sound measures of weight bias for various purposes and populations, and discuss future directions to improve measurement of this construct.

Browsing by Author "Lacroix, Emilie"

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