Co-occurrence between eating disorder symptoms and addictive behaviors among adult women: a controlled analysis

While associations between abnormal eating behaviors and attitudes (AEBs) and addictive behaviors have been explored, existing research does not adequately control for confounding variables, leaving the possibility of spurious correlations. Therefore, this study aims to provide clearer insights by examining the relationships between anorexic and bulimic symptoms (i.e., drive for thinness and binge eating) and specific addictive behaviors, while controlling for psychological distress and multiple addictive behaviors.

Using a sample of 2,000 adult women, the participants self-reported their drive for thinness, binge eating, psychological distress, alcohol misuse, problematic internet use, compulsive shopping, and problem gambling.

Multiple regression analyses revealed that the drive for thinness was positively and negatively associated with alcohol misuse and compulsive shopping, and problem gambling, respectively. Binge eating was positively linked to problematic internet use and compulsive shopping. However, the effect sizes of these associations ranged from very small to small.

While the strength of the associations between AEBs and addictive behaviors among adult women, as reported in previous research, may reflect spurious correlations, the co-occurrence of different types of AEBs appears to be far more pronounced.