Introduction
Lavender, De Young, Wonderlich, Crosby, Engel, Mitchell, Crow, and Peterson (2013) tend to look into the relationship between various types of anxiety in anorexia nervosa associated with eating disorder behaviors. The researchers examined the probability of the prevalence of the food consumption disorders, chronological distribution of food consumption behaviors on daily basis and the level on the propensity to demonstrate particular concern as related to baseline investigative and variability in individuality traits. According to the researchers, anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) particularly related to eating disorders behavior patterns has not been fully studied.
Organization of the article, research questions and literature review
Essentially, the researchers tended to address the following questions in their study. Whether there is any relationship between eating disorders and anxiety in AN, the existence of anxiety among individuals diagnosed with AN as well as whether the symptoms of anxiety may cause variations in patients experiencing remissions from AN. However, the research questions are not explicit in terms of the objectives of the study. Even though the article is organized in such a way that the main problem is clearly brought out from the beginning, the organization of the article does not meet the standards required on a research paper.
The researchers failed to indicate the distinct and important sections such as the study objectives and the significance of the study. Most importantly, literature review of the study topic is not clearly indicated. Moreover, the literature review is not exhaustive since findings of various researches and the work of other scholars have not been thoroughly included in the article. Nevertheless, the article provides a clear findings and explanations to the targeted audience.
Research methods, samples and data analysis
Lavender, De Young, Wonderlich, Crosby, Engel, Mitchell, Crow, and Peterson (2013) majorly applied quantitative research method in their data collection. The quantitative aspect focused on the primary information from the sampled population of the study. In fact, the researchers were explicit in their sample selection criteria and came up with appropriate sample in terms of quality and distribution. However, the number of respondents making the sample was too small taking into consideration the objectives of the study. The model the researchers used to analyze the data was designed to attain the reliable and verifiable results.
The researchers achieved validity and reliability of the study through adoption of appropriate modeling design as well as the application of standard instruments for collection and analysis of data. The validity and reliability means that the findings of the study can be applied in the intervention and treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Findings and conclusions
The overall findings indicate that there is close correlation between eating disorder behavior patterns and anxiety in anorexia nervosa. The findings indicate the presence of individual variability in the patterns of daily anxiety on people diagnosed with AN. Further, the results indicate a correlation between the anxiety patterns and the individual eating disorder behaviors. The researchers found an increased rate of changes in eating behaviors, stimulated nausea, increased body checking patterns, frequent skipping of meals as well as dietary limitations. Moreover, the results indicated close relationship between eating disorder behaviors and increased anxiety.
The findings were common across the study trajectories. In addition, the personality pathology and co-occurrence of mood disorder were also found to be closely linked to the daily anxiety. The conclusion made was that anxiety measures in various models are closely linked to the anorexia nervosa. Therefore, prevention or any intervention and treatment should be based on the ways that would reduce anxiety among individuals with anorexia nervosa.
Limitations of the study
Even though the study applied appropriate sampling procedure, the sample was too small considering the aspect of the study to make conclusive results. In addition, various limitations also exist particularly in the study design as well as in models used in the data analysis. Therefore, the deductions drawn from the study cannot be conclusively admitted. As such, there is need for further researches on this area. In particular, the studies conducted using larger group to ascertain results for adoption. In other words, this study is limited to inform the full adoption of the results in practice.
The contributions of the article in clinical application and future research
The findings of the study provide immense understanding of the relationship between anxiety and anorexia nervosa and the causes of such anxieties. The article achieves this contribution by looking into the theoretical perspectives as well as new modeling criteria that helps in the advanced understanding of the behavioral patterns as well as related anxiety disorders believed to be associated with AN.
The analysis provides a reliable and valid results that can be used to develop appropriate clinical interventions for prevention and diagnosis of AN. Secondly, the researchers presented a concise empirical study and outlined the valid and reliable results that are critical in the understanding of the causes of anxieties associated with AN. However, the article is not exhaustive. More researches applying various models as well as using large samples are needed to ascertain results for adoption in clinical practice.
Reference
Lavender, J. M., De Young, K. P., Wonderlich, S. A., Crosby, R. D., Engel, S. G., Mitchell, J. E., Crow, S. J. & Peterson, C. B. (2013). Daily patterns of anxiety in anorexia nervosa: associations with eating disorder behaviors in the natural environment. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(3), 672–683.