Examining the effect of weight conscious drinking on binge drinking frequency among college freshmen

Abstract

Objective

To examine the effect of weight-conscious drinking and compensatory behavior temporality on binge drinking frequency of college freshmen. Participants: Freshmen (n = 1149) from eight US universities, Fall 2015. Methods: Participants completed the Compensatory Eating Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption. Structural equation modeling was used to model the effect of weight-conscious drinking constructs on binge drinking frequency. Results: Bulimia, Dietary Restraint and Exercise, Restriction, proactive Alcohol Effects, during Alcohol Effects, and proactive Dietary Restraint and Exercise factors significantly predicted binge drinking frequency. Conclusion: Weight-conscious drinking among this cohort of college students comprises temporal factors significantly associated with binge drinking frequency. Relationships between Bulimia, Dietary Restraint and Exercise, and Restriction compensatory behaviors and binge drinking should be considered in interventions to address binge drinking among college students.

Keywords:

• College binge drinking
• college students
• disordered eating
• weight-conscious drinking

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America. All study procedures were approved by the University of Tennessee Institutional Review Board for participating universities, except Kansas State University, Auburn University, and the University of Florida where separate institutional approval was required.