# A longitudinal, momentary examination of interpersonal stress, inhibitory control, binge eating, and nonsuicidal self-injury

> **NIH NIH P20** · SANFORD RESEARCH NORTH · 2021 · $151,674

## Abstract

A longitudinal, momentary examination of interpersonal stress, inhibitory control, binge eating, and
nonsuicidal self-injury
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Eating disorders are associated with numerous, severe medical and psychological problems, including suicidal
behaviors that lead to premature mortality. Approximately one-quarter to one-third of people with eating
disorders have thought about and/or attempted suicide and an estimated quarter to half of individuals with
eating disorders engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Currently, the best available treatments for adults
with eating disorders produce moderate remission rates and high dropout and relapse rates and do not have
components targeting commonly co-occurring suicidal behaviors (e.g., NSSI). Thus, it is essential to develop a
better understanding of eating disorders and the suicidal behaviors that often accompany them, so that we can
develop more effective treatments. Eating disorder and NSSI research have both consistently found that
interpersonal stress increases the risk of engaging in these dysregulated behaviors. Additionally, the scientific
literature has linked low inhibitory control to eating disorder and suicidal behaviors. This project proposes to
test the Interpersonal Model of Dysregulated Behaviors, which hypothesizes that high momentary interpersonal
stress and low momentary inhibitory control lead to eating disorder and suicidal behavior. The model will be
tested in a sample of college freshmen (due to this being a vulnerable period of time for the onset of eating
disorder and suicidal behavior). Ecological momentary assessment protocols used at the beginning and end of
freshman year will be used to test predictions about inhibitory control, interpersonal stress, and the interplay
between the two variables in the prediction of subsequent binge eating and NSSI behavior. Achieving the aims
of the study will deepen knowledge about the etiology and course of binge eating and NSSI over time.
Importantly, the results will have implications for creating novel interventions that more effectively target these
behaviors than existing treatments.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10087741
- **Project number:** 1P20GM134969-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** SANFORD RESEARCH NORTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Kathryn Hope Gordon
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $151,674
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10087741

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10087741, A longitudinal, momentary examination of interpersonal stress, inhibitory control, binge eating, and nonsuicidal self-injury (1P20GM134969-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10087741. Licensed CC0.

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