Relationships between Binge Drinking and Binge Eating with Facets of Impulsivity, Reinforcement Sensitivity and Attentional Bias

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess how the specific facets of impulsive personality and behavioral measures of impulsivity are related to binge eating and binge drinking singularly and concurrently. We looked at the three major dimensions of impulsive personality traits: poor Effortful Control (as measured by the UPPS-P), high Reward Sensitivity, and low Punishment Sensitivity (as measured by the Sensitivity to Punishment, Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire). We obtained data from 75 college students. The data was analyzed using correlation, regression models and mixed models. There was an interference effect for emotion in general in the Stroop task, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the stimuli manipulations as intended for the study. There were no common correlates for the two binge behaviors. Binge eating was associated with Negative Urgency and Lack of Perseverance, while binge drinking was associated with Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency, Lack of Premeditation, and Punishment and Reward Sensitivity. Eating concerns were associated with Negative Urgency and Punishment Sensitivity, while consequences connected to alcohol use were associated with Positive Urgency and Lack of Premeditation. Higher scores on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task correlated with higher frequencies of binge drinking, providing support for behavioral measures accounting for additional variance in binge behaviors. Interventions and prevention techniques for such risky behaviors should entail distress tolerance training for both positive and negative emotions, and education on how to not lose focus on long-term goals.