Addiction Vulnerability and Binge Eating in Women: Exploring Reward Sensitivity, Affect Regulation, Impulsivity & Weight/Shape Concerns

Abstract

Almost 40% of individuals with eating disorders have a comorbid addiction. The current study examined weight/shape concerns as a potential moderator of the relation between the hypothesized latent factor "addiction vulnerability" (i.e., impairments in reward sensitivity, affect regulation and impulsivity) and binge eating. Undergraduate women (n=272) with either high or low weight/shape concerns completed self-report measures examining reward sensitivity, emotion regulation, impulsivity and disordered (binge) eating. Results showed that (1) reward sensitivity, affect regulation and impulsivity all loaded onto a latent "addiction vulnerability" factor for both women with high and with low weight/shape concerns, (2) women with higher weight/shape concerns reported more impairment in these areas, and (3) weight/shape concerns moderated the relation between addiction vulnerability and binge eating. These findings suggest that underlying processes identified in addiction are present in individuals who binge eat, though weight/shape concerns may be a unique characteristic of disordered eating.

Keywords: addiction; binge eating; eating disorders; emotion regulation; impulsivity; reward sensitivity; urgency.

Figure 1

Measurement Model of Addiction Vulnerability. Oval represents latent constructs and rectangles represent measured constructs. SPSRQ – SR = Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire – Sensitivity to Reward Subscale; DERS = Overall Score on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; NEGU = (negative) Urgency subscale of the UPPS-P; POSU = Positive Urgency subscale of the UPPS-P.

Figure 2

Proposed Model Reflecting Weight and Shape Concerns Moderate the Relationship between EDs and Addiction Vulnerability. Oval represents latent constructs and rectangles represent measured constructs. SPSRQ – SR = Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward Questionnaire – Sensitivity to Reward Subscale; DERS = Overall Score on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; NEGU = (negative) Urgency subscale of the UPPS-P; POSU = Positive Urgency subscale of the UPPS-P.