The role of Experiential Avoidance and related factors in eating disorders: a systematic review

Current treatments for eating disorders generally aim to identify and reduce maladaptive regulation strategies and develop adaptive strategies. Nevertheless, there is a need to improve interventions when treatment failures, high mortality and relapse rates are taken into consideration. This study examines the role of experiential avoidance, a transdiagnostic concept that is addressed in many therapy approaches, in eating disorder symptomatology and factors associated with experiential avoidance. The findings are expected to significantly contribute to current treatment approaches, especially acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched on 15 December 2023 using relevant keywords and no publication date restrictions were used. As a result of the screening, 17 articles were found. The findings revealed that there were strong and significant relationships between experiential avoidance and eating disorder symptoms. In this relationship, emotion regulation, rumination, mindfulness and anxiety sensitivity concepts of experiential avoidance were found to be important modulatory factors. The results obtained are important in terms of understanding the cognitive, social and emotional motivations underlying eating behaviour and determining appropriate intervention approaches for eating disorders. The findings are discussed in line with the relevant literature, theoretical framework and current approaches. Consistent and inconsistent aspects of the findings, possible causes and suggestions for their elimination were made.