Exploring the Relationships Between Transdiagnostic Factors and Eating Disorder Symptomology in a Clinical Sample of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, Queer, Asexual, and Pansexual Clients

The current study examined the relationships between experiential avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, mindfulness, and adaptive coping in a clinical sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, queer, asexual, and pansexual (LGBQQAP) clients entering residential treatment for eating disorders (EDs). The following results were found: (1) Affectional orientation was a significant predictor of anxiety sensitivity; (2) mindfulness significantly predicted 14.8% of the variance in anxiety sensitivity, 29.4% in experiential avoidance, and 3% in adaptive coping; and (3) experiential avoidance fully mediated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and ED symptomology. Implications for counseling and future research with LGBQQAP individuals with EDs are discussed.