Traumatic stress and alcohol-related disordered eating in a college sample

Abstract

The current study examined the association between posttraumatic stress symptoms and disordered eating behaviors related to alcohol consumption (i.e., "drunkorexia"). Participants: Participants were 478 undergraduate students at a university in the southeastern United States. Method: Participants completed online self-report questionnaires related to alcohol-related disordered eating and compensatory behaviors, posttraumatic stress symptoms, problematic drinking, and weight and shape concerns. Results: Results found that posttraumatic stress symptoms, body weight and shape concerns, and problematic drinking were independent predictors of alcohol-related disordered eating. Conclusion: These findings confirm previous research that symptoms of eating disorders and symptoms of problem drinking predict disordered eating patterns surrounding alcohol use and further indicate that trauma may play an important role in such behaviors. Results have implications for trauma-informed treatment for college students presenting with "drunkorexia."

Keywords: Alcohol; disordered eating; drunkorexia; trauma.