Date of Award

January 2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

F. R. Ferraro

Abstract

Co-occurring binge eating and binge drinking is being reported more frequently in college populations and adolescents. Past research has explored various aspects of emotional regulation difficulties in these populations, as well as personality differences, negative affect and various motivations for behaviors. The current study aimed to further explore these differences in individuals who engage in binge eating and drinking separately, comparatively to those who do both binging behaviors. Female undergraduates from a large Mid-Western university (N=127) completed multiple questionnaires regarding eating and drinking behaviors, information regarding their personality traits, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioral motivations and levels of negative affect. Four mutually exclusive groups were created: binge drinking, binge eating, combined binging (both binge eating and binge drinking behavior), and controls. MANOVA and post hoc analyses found similar drinking and drunkorexia motivations for the combined group and binge drinking group, while negative affect of the combined group was more closely related to those in the binge eating group. Additionally, the combined binge group reported the greatest amount of emotional regulation difficulties. Findings suggest that different aspects of the psychopathology for the combined group are shared with binge drinking and binge eating populations separately. This research further emphasizes the need for assessing both binging symptomologies present in individuals simultaneously.

Download

Share

COinS