Addictive Behaviors
Katherine Berry, B.A.
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Makena Engelker, None
Research Assistant
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Alison Looby, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) is the use of any compensatory behavior before, during, and/or after a drinking episode for the purpose of enhancing the effects of alcohol and/or to compensate for the calories consumed by alcohol. FAD behaviors occur at alarmingly high rates among adult and adolescent populations worldwide and are associated with a variety of negative consequences. Yet, the phenomenology of FAD behaviors remains understudied and not well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study is to 1) qualitatively examine the descriptive characteristics of FAD behaviors, focusing on the types of compensatory behaviors engaged in, temporal ordering of FAD, and motives for engaging in FAD, and 2) provide a thematic analysis of the expected effects of FAD. Semi-structured open-ended interviews are being conducted with college students (current N = 13; projected = 20) at a large public university in the Mountain West who report engaging in FAD behaviors at least once in their lifetime. Interviews are being transcribed by three coders independently, and analyses of the transcripts are being performed to identify emerging themes. The present sample is largely comprised of female (92.3%), white non-Hispanic (76.9%) students with a mean age of 19.46 (SD = 1.27). Although data collection is ongoing, preliminary findings suggest that skipping meals (100%), restricting calories (84.6%), and eating low-calorie meals (53.8%) are the most commonly endorsed FAD behaviors. The majority of participants engaged in compensatory behaviors before (84.6%) drinking alcohol, as compared to during (38.5%) or after (30.8%), respectfully. In addition, 84.6% of participants reported engaging in FAD to compensate for the calories consumed by alcohol, while 76.9% stated that they engage in FAD to enhance the effects of alcohol. Lastly, a preliminary thematic analysis of the expected effects of FAD has identified the following emerging themes: social (e.g., “I will have more fun”), sexual (e.g., “I will not be able to provide consent”), appearance/weight-related (e.g., “I will not gain weight”), psychological and physical consequences (e.g., “I will feel sick”), alcohol effects (e.g., “I will get more drunk quicker”), cognitive and behavioral impairment (e.g., “I will regret my decisions”), and financial (e.g., “I will save money”). Additionally, preliminary findings suggest that individuals who engage in FAD report more negatively valenced expected effects of FAD than positive expected effects. Taken together, these findings highlight the need to develop better measures to assess the descriptive characteristics and motives for FAD. Further, to our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the expected effects of FAD, providing new directions for research, intervention, and prevention efforts. Importantly, the identification of the aforementioned emerging themes may serve as a basis for the creation of a FAD expectancy measure.