Abstracts Psychology

Mortality Salience and Motivation in Eating Disorders: An Application of the Terror Management Health Model

by Mary E. Duffy

In line with the Terror Management Health Model, death-related fear appeals are often utilized in public health campaigns. Research, however, suggests that these approaches may increase engagement in health risk behaviors when said behavior is esteem relevant. This study utilized a clinical eating disorder sample to investigate the effect of death-related eating disorder awareness posters on motivation to change and meal plan completion. Participants (N = 122) recruited from eating disorder treatment facilities completed an assessment of eating disorder-related self-esteem, were exposed to 1) death-related [mortality salience] and 2) eating disorder awareness [control] poster stimuli across two sessions. Outcomes were self-reported motivation to change and meal plan completion. A series of linear mixed models were employed to evaluate motivation to change and next-meal and 24-hour meal plan completion with condition, eating disorder related self-esteem, and their interaction as predictors. All results of primary models were non-significant. Exploratory analyses examined an anorexia nervosa only subsample, residential level-of-care only subsample, and the substitution of general self-esteem for eating disorder-related self-esteem. Overall results were in contrast with study hypotheses, suggesting that mortality salience has little effect on the motivation of those with eating disorders broadly, but may be helpful in motivating those with anorexia nervosa and severe symptoms. Eating disorder-related self-esteem may be of greater relevance to those with more severe eating disorders. General self-esteem may be important to consider regarding motivation. Future studies should consider utilizing non-treatment seeking samples and testing different delivery methods, like verbal communication from providers or family. A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. April 11, 2022. eating disorder, motivation, self-esteem, terror management theory Thomas E. Joiner, Professor Directing Dissertation; John Corrigan, University Representative; Greg Hajcak, Committee Member; N. Brad Schmidt, Committee Member; Ashby Plant, Committee Member.