Examination of the Parasympathetic Activation Hypothesis (PAH)

127 Pages·2016·1.28 MB·English

by  Stephanie Marie Terracciano

Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Knowledge Repository @ IUP
Theses and Dissertations (All)
7-17-2015
Examination of the Parasympathetic Activation
Hypothesis (PAH) for Arousal-Induced Eating
Stephanie Marie Terracciano
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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(2015).Theses and Dissertations (All). 772.
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EXAMINATION OF THE PARASYMPATHETIC ACTIVATION HYPOTHESIS (PAH)
FOR AROUSAL-INDUCED EATING

A Dissertation
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies and Research
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Psychology

Stephanie Marie Terracciano
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
August 2015
© 2015 Stephanie Marie Terracciano
All Rights Reserved
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Indiana University of Pennsylvania
School of Graduate Studies and Research
Department of Psychology

We hereby approve the dissertation of

Stephanie Marie Terracciano

Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Psychology

___________________ ______________________________________
David J. LaPorte, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology, Advisor

___________________ ______________________________________
John A. Mills, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology

___________________ ______________________________________
Susan T. Zimny, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology

ACCEPTED

______________________________________ ___________________
Randy L. Martin, Ph.D.
Dean
School of Graduate Studies and Research
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Title: Examination of the Parasympathetic Activation Hypothesis (PAH) for Arousal-Induced
Eating

Author: Stephanie Marie Terracciano

Dissertation Chair: Dr. David J. LaPorte

Dissertation Committee Members: Dr. John A. Mills
Dr. Susan T. Zimny

The Parasympathetic Activation Hypothesis (PAH; LaPorte, 1986) for arousal-induced
eating proposes that, at modest levels of emotional arousal, eating attenuates sympathetic
nervous system activity and activates the parasympathetic nervous system to maintain
physiological homeostasis. Eating does not occur at very low or high levels of arousal, thus
forming an inverted U-shape function between arousal and eating. Eating activates the
parasympathetic nervous system in all people, but people who become highly disinhibited when
eating are more susceptible to eating as a way to cope with arousing stimuli.
This study investigated the impact of three levels of arousal (i.e., low, moderate, and
high) on food consumption. Restrained and disinhibited eating was assessed through a pre-screen
measure, the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18. Participants were randomly assigned to
one of the conditions during which they were administered anagram tasks on the computer that
were created to induce the designated emotional arousal. Mood rating scales were completed at
three different time points to assess for change in emotional arousal and document the impact of
each arousal condition. Food was presented after the completion of a portion of the anagram
tasks.
Data were analyzed using a series of MANOVAs and bivariate correlations. Overall,
results suggest that the arousal manipulation was effective. Although subjects in the moderate
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arousal condition ate more than those in the other two conditions as predicted, results did not
reach statistical significance (p = .20). A one-way MANOVA examining the relations among
restrained and disinhibited eating (IV) and chips and donut consumption (DVs) did not show that
eating differed significantly between the low and high restrained and disinhibited groups.
Overall, findings are interpreted as providing partial support for the hypothesis that at moderate
levels of arousal eating is more likely to occur.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my loving parents, sisters, and close friends for their endless support
throughout this dissertation experience and the entirety of graduate school. I want to specially
recognize my mentor, David LaPorte, who has provided me with immense guidance throughout
my five years of graduate work. I also would like to thank my other committee members, John
Mills and Susan Zimny, for their support, encouragement, and helpful feedback throughout this
dissertation process and graduate school. I also am very grateful for the exceptional support and
assistance from Ahmad Salim with the creation of the computer-based anagram tasks, as well as
very appreciative of Kelley Chilson’s assistance with running participants during the data
collection process.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page
I LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction to Restrained and Disinihibited Eating .......................................................... 3
Emotional Arousal and the Autonomic Nervous System ................................................... 4
Theories of Arousal-Induced Eating ................................................................................... 5
Restraint and Arousal-Induced Eating .............................................................................. 10
Alcohol as a Disinhibitor Among Restrained Eaters ............................................ 15
Summary ............................................................................................................... 17
Restraint, Disinhibition, and Arousal-Induced Eating ...................................................... 18
Summary ............................................................................................................... 25
Food Preferences in Emotionally Arousing Situations ..................................................... 26
Summary ............................................................................................................... 31
Summary and Current Study ............................................................................................. 32
II METHODS AND PROCEDURES................................................................................... 34
Participants ........................................................................................................................ 34
Measures ........................................................................................................................... 34
Restraint and Disinhibition ................................................................................... 34
Arousal .................................................................................................................. 36
Food Intake ........................................................................................................... 37
Demographic Questionnaire ................................................................................. 38
Procedure .......................................................................................................................... 38
III RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 42
Preliminary Analyses ........................................................................................................ 42
Randomization Check ....................................................................................................... 46
Manipulation Check .......................................................................................................... 46
Manipulation Check With Observation Variable ................................................. 61
Arousal and Food Intake ................................................................................................... 62
Restraint, Disinhibition, Arousal, and Food Intake .......................................................... 65
IV DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................... 68
Experimental Manipulation Check on Mood Ratings ...................................................... 68
Emotional Arousal and Food Consumption ...................................................................... 71
Restraint and Disinhibition ............................................................................................... 74
Study Strengths and Limitations ....................................................................................... 76
Future Directions and Conclusion .................................................................................... 79

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Chapter Page
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 81
APPENDICES .............................................................................................................................. 95

Appendix A - Detailed Script for Each Condition ............................................................ 95
Appendix B - Informed Consent ....................................................................................... 99
Appendix C - Anagram Computer Activity .................................................................... 101
Appendix D - Three Factor Eating Questionnaire – Revised 18 (TFEQ – R18) ............ 109
Appendix E - Mood Rating Scale ................................................................................... 112
Appendix F - Taste Test Rating Scale ............................................................................ 113
Appendix G - Demographics Questionnaire ................................................................... 114
Appendix H - Food Eaten Form...................................................................................... 115
Appendix I - Debriefing Form ........................................................................................ 116

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Emotions at Different Time Points ................................................................................... 42
2 Correlations Among All Study Variables ......................................................................... 44
3 Emotions Within Groups .................................................................................................. 48
4 Happiness Ratings Over Time for Each Group ................................................................ 53
5 Anger Ratings Over Time for Each Group ....................................................................... 55
6 Anxiety Ratings Over Time for Each Group .................................................................... 57
7 Calories Consumed by Group ........................................................................................... 67

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