Date of Award

1-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department/Program

Psychology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Jennifer Yang

Committee Member

Peter Vietze

Committee Member

Michael Bixter

Committee Member

Shannon O'Connor

Abstract

This study investigated potential predictors and risk factors of disordered eating behaviors and attitudes among undergraduate college students, addressing the high prevalence of disordered eating on college campuses. The sample consisted of 85 female undergraduate students who completed self-report measures of impulsivity, emotion regulation difficulties, desire for a sense of control, eating disorder behaviors and attitudes, as well as behavioral (Go/No-go task) and physiological (antisaccade task) measures of impulsivity, using food-related stimuli. Correlational, linear regression, and discriminant function analyses revealed significant associations among the self-report independent variables with eating disorder risk. Detailed findings for specific subscales of eating disorder risk, namely Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction, are provided. The antisaccade task demonstrated better alignment with self-report endorsements of impulsivity, compared to the Go/No-go task, suggesting its superior adequacy in measuring impulsivity and highlighting potential bias observed in the behavioral measure. The Go/No-go task suggested a distinct pattern of compensatory behaviors and a conservative response style in this non-clinical sample. General limitations associated with performance-based tasks of impulsivity are described. Overall, this study emphasized the importance of employing these accessible self-report measures not only for screening eating disorder risk, but also to allow for more targeted treatment options that address the underlying mechanisms and psychological factors that initiate and perpetuate disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. Clinical implications are also discussed.

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