(PS8-B29) The Dilemma of First Dates for People with Eating Disorder Psychopathology and Eating-disorder-related Impairment: Implications for Treatment and Maintenance of Gains

First dates frequently include situations where individuals are faced with consuming calories (e.g., having drinks, eating at a restaurant).  Extant findings demonstrate that experiencing high anxiety on dates may impair an individual’s ability to have successful dates and initiate romantic relationships. This may be particularly relevant for those with eating disorders, as they are likely to experience elevated anxiety in situations that involve caloric consumption, potentially inhibiting their ability to begin a relationship. Notably, gains in treatment for eating disorders are associated with the presence of a romantic relationship. Little is known about mechanisms that adversely impact intimate relationship formation and maintenance among those with eating disorder psychopathology. Thus, it is important to explore the possibility of heightened anxiety on first dates for individuals who endorse eating disorder symptoms. We used the Global Score of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to quantify eating disorder psychopathology. We used the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA) to quantify impairment related to eating disorder symptoms. Participants (N=243) were asked to read three vignettes – one about going on a date without eating, one about eating in the presence of friends, and one about eating in the presence of a first date – and report their state anxiety in each hypothetical situation as measured by the Self-Assessment Manikin for Arousal (SAM). A bivariate correlation showed a strong correlation for EDE-Q Global scores and anticipatory anxiety for the vignette of eating in front of a date (r=.576, p< .001), as well as a moderate correlation for anticipatory anxiety for the vignettes of eating in front of friends (r=.486, p< .001) and being on a date without eating (r=.298, p< .001). A bivariate correlation demonstrated a moderate, positive association between CIA scores and SAM scores for anticipatory anxiety for the vignette of eating in the presence of a date (r=.477, p< .001). Additionally, there were moderate, positive associations between CIA scores and SAM scores for anticipatory anxiety for the vignette of eating in front of friends (r=.416, p< .001) and the vignette of going on a date without eating (r=.319, p< .001).

Eating disorder psychopathology was strongly associated with anxiety when eating in the presence of others. Additionally, participants with eating disorder psychopathology anticipated having more anxiety on dates that involve eating. Accordingly, they may experience greater impairment on first dates, potentially adversely impacting an established buffer against more severe eating disorder psychopathology and relapse. Lastly, eating disorder psychopathology may be related to the experience of general heightened anticipatory anxiety of being on dates, even in the absence of food. These findings have important implications for treatment of eating disorders to include anticipation and preparation for dating scenarios, which may assist with maintenance of recovery.