Binge eating and problem gambling are prospectively associated with common and distinct deficits in emotion regulation among community women.

Abstract

To elucidate similarities and differences between binge eating and a behavioural addiction, this prospective study compared facets of emotion regulation that were associated with problem gambling, the only formally recognised behavioural addiction, and binge eating. Community-based women (N ϭ 202) who engaged in at-risk binge eating (n ϭ 79), at-risk gambling (n ϭ 36), or both (n ϭ 87) completed four online assessments over 6 months. Baseline and 6-month surveys assessed self-reported emotion dysregulation (using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale [DERS] and UPPS-P), binge eating (using the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire), and gambling (using the Problem Gambling Severity Index); abbreviated 2-and 4-month surveys assessed only binge eating and gambling. Binge eating and problem gambling were both associated with emotion dysregulation, and greater positive urgency was correlated with more severe problem gambling but less frequent binge eating. Negative urgency explained no unique variance in binge eating or problem gambling changes over time once other facets of emotion dysregulation (i.e., positive urgency and facets assessed by the DERS) were included. Thus, previous cross-sectional research may have overestimated the association of negative urgency with both binge eating and problem gambling. Overall, these findings suggest that binge eating and problem gambling are associated with common as well as distinct emotion regulation deficits. Public Significance StatementIt is unclear whether binge eating should be considered a behavioural addiction like problem gambling. As both problems tend to involve difficulties with emotion regulation, this study examined similarities and differences in emotion regulation problems experienced by women with binge eating, gambling, or both problems over 6 months. The pattern of results showed that binge eating and problem gambling shared some but not all emotion regulation difficulties, suggesting that binge eating may not be an addiction.

Negative urgency combined with negative emotionality is linked to eating disorder psychopathology in community women with and without binge eating

“…Previous research in this area has focused primarily on either undergraduates without eating disorder diagnoses or treatment‐seeking individuals (Farstad & von Ranson, 2021). However, in refining risk and maintenance models of eating disorder psychopathology, data from community samples are valuable as they avoid biases evident in treatment samples (Berkson, 1946) and may be more representative of most individuals living with these disorders (Kessler et al, 2013).…”

The associative learning roots of affect-driven impulsivity and its role in problem gambling: A replication attempt and extension of Quintero et al. (2020)

“…And in a study by Mestre-Bach et al (2020) positive urgency predicted gambling severity in a sample of male patients with gambling disorder. Although this study suggested that negative urgency could be more strongly related to gambling symptom severity in women, a study by Farstad and von Ranson (2021), with a sample of women showing at-risk gambling, at-risk binge eating, or both, reported positive urgency (but not negative urgency) to be linked with problem gambling severity. Rogier, Colombi, and Velotti (2020) also found that positive urgency was the only significant predictor of severity scores, and attributed the seemingly inconsistent results to the different sample compositions across studies, in terms of gambling preferences and motivations.…”

Features of Addiction in Binge-Eating Disorder: Considerations for Screening and Treatment

“…While some have viewed BED in a similar manner to substance-related disorders, akin to a state of developing pathophysiology created by excessive stimulation of brain reward circuitry by ultra-processed foods, others have examined overlaps with behavioral addictions. 39 , 40 Behavioral addiction refers to repeated and uncontrolled impulsive behavior that can cause undesirable consequences and seemingly shares neurobiological and clinical similarities with substance-related disorders. 41 , 42 However, behavioral addiction exists in the absence of psychoactive substance.…”