Authors:
Allen, K. L.; McLean, N. J.; Byrne, S. M.
Authors notes:
Eating Behaviors. 2012;13(4):326-34
Keywords:
Binge eating, Distress tolerance, Eating disorders, Mood intolerance, Purging
Abstract:
This research aimed to (i) validate a new measure of mood intolerance, the Tolerance of Mood States (TOMS) scale, and (ii) to examine associations between TOMS scores and eating pathology.
The original TOMS was developed and evaluated using the data from 258 adult participants.
Analyses provided support for the reliability and validity of the scale two of the TOMS. This scale consists of 11 items on two subscales, and assesses the tendency to engage in maladaptive behaviours when confronted with intense moods.
Scores on this scale were significantly higher amongst participants who reported binge eating and purging than amongst participants who did not, and they correlated significantly with a global index of eating disorder symptoms. The 11-item scale was retained as the final version of the TOMS.
Preliminary support is provided for the validity of a new measure of mood intolerance, the TOMS. Scores on the TOMS subscales were significantly associated with eating disorder symptoms in this non-clinical sample.