Investigating cognitive factors related to eating disorders

About this study

You are invited to take part in this research investigating the role of cognitive flexibility, perfectionism and rumination in eating disorders and disordered eating behaviours. This project aims to clarify the role of various cognitive factors in eating disorders. This research will investigate the role of cognitive flexibility and related processes (e.g. rumination, perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and self-efficacy) in the maintenance of disordered eating symptoms. The improved understanding of eating disorders and cognitive factors developed through this research may aid in the development of effective treatments for eating disorders.

Research TeamZaki Browning, A/Prof Isabel Krug, Dr Stephanie Miles
InstitutionThe University of Melbourne
Websitehttps://q.surveys.unimelb.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_6WfyTaHf0YohmK2
Ethics Approval Number2025-28403-65361-9
Funding SourceN/A
Project Start Date27 February 2025
Project End Date24 October 2025
ParticipantsWe are recruiting both individuals with a lived current or lifetime
eating disorder and controls without an eating disorder diagnosis.

Requirements for participation:
• Over the age of 18
• Fluent in English
• No history of a head injury, have no known neurological disorder and have not been diagnosed with a psychotic condition.
• We are seeking people with and without a lifetime diagnosis of anorexia
nervosa to take part.
• You must be able to download a small file to your computer or smartphone in order to complete the study.
What is InvolvedIf you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete several self-report measures, followed by two short, simple neuropsychological tasks. These tasks will involve you matching cards and using the cursor to draw a line between letters and numbers.
To complete the tasks, you will be required to download a small file onto your computer or smart phone. This file can be deleted after you have completed the study. You will not be required to install any program or software.

The study will take less than one hour to complete.

Upon completion of the study, you will be entered into a voucher draw to win 1 of 5 $50 e-gift cards. This will be organised by one of the researchers.
Contact Details

Zaki Browning / zaki.browning@student.unimelb.edu.au ; Isabel Krug / isabel.krug@unimelb.edu.au ; Stephanie Miles / stephanie.miles@orygen.org.au

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