Cumulative lifetime stress exposure predicts greater impulsivity and addictive behaviors

McMullin, Sara D; Shields, Grant S.; Slavich, George M.; Buchanan, Tony W.

doi:10.1177/1359105320937055

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This study adds timely data to existing literature on the role of stress in decision making and consequential behaviours. Similar to previous research that documented associations between stress and delay discounting (Diller et al., 2011) and maladaptive behaviours, such as substance use and food addiction (McMullin et al., 2020; Sinha, 2008), we found that stress was positively related to delay discounting and stockpiling, and stress was negatively related to physical distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic. These findings highlight stress reduction as a potential avenue for managing behaviours that have the potential to impact both individual and public health and well‐being.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…For instance, stress is associated with amplified tendencies for selecting immediate gratification with smaller benefits rather than waiting for larger benefits in the future (Diller et al., 2011), a tendency referred to as delay discounting. Studies have also established a link between stress and risk for maladaptive behaviours, such as substance use and food addiction (McMullin et al., 2020; Sinha, 2008). Furthermore, some researchers have found that delay discounting mediates the relationship between stress and substance use (Fields et al., 2009; Nikolova et al., 2016).…”

Section: Stress and Covid‐19 Related Behaviors: The Mediating Role Of Delay Discountingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stress and COVID‐19 related behaviours: The mediating role of delay discounting

2021

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We examined stress as a predictor of behaviours related to Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) through its effects on delay discounting. Adults ( N = 3686) completed an online survey with a behavioural measure of delay discounting and questions regarding stress, physical distancing, and stockpiling of food and supplies. Stress was weakly, but positively, correlated with delay discounting ( p < 0.01). Delay discounting was positively correlated with stockpiling ( p < 0.01); and discounting was negatively correlated with physical distancing ( p < 0.01). Mediation models indicated that discounting was a significant mediator of the relationship between stress and physical distancing (−0.003) and stockpiling (0.003); bootstrap 95% CIs (−0.006, −0.001) and (0.001, 0.005), respectively. After accounting for its indirect effects through discounting, stress continued to have a direct effect on these outcomes. This study indicates that delay discounting partially mediates the link between stress and behaviours related to COVID‐19. Results suggest that interventions reducing stress and/or delay discounting may be profitable for increasing infection prevention and reducing stockpiling.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Stress and Covid‐19 Related Behaviors: The Mediating Role Of Delay Discountingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress and COVID‐19 related behaviours: The mediating role of delay discounting

2021

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“…ELA can be viewed as nonspecific because it predisposes individuals to a wide range of addictive behaviors. For example, in a sample of healthy young adults ( n = 200), greater lifetime stress exposure was related to increased impulsivity and FA [ 126 ], suggesting that food is a predictable go-to for self-medication [ 127 ]. A nationally representative sample of young adults’ ( n = 10,813) exposure to multiple forms of maltreatment predicted excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption [ 128 ].…”

Section: Trauma and Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

Separating the Signal from the Noise: How Psychiatric Diagnoses Can Help Discern Food Addiction from Dietary Restraint

Wiss

Brewerton

2020

Nutrients

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Converging evidence from both animal and human studies have implicated hedonic eating as a driver of both binge eating and obesity. The construct of food addiction has been used to capture pathological eating across clinical and non-clinical populations. There is an ongoing debate regarding the value of a food addiction “diagnosis” among those with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa binge/purge-type, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Much of the food addiction research in eating disorder populations has failed to account for dietary restraint, which can increase addiction-like eating behaviors and may even lead to false positives. Some have argued that the concept of food addiction does more harm than good by encouraging restrictive approaches to eating. Others have shown that a better understanding of the food addiction model can reduce stigma associated with obesity. What is lacking in the literature is a description of a more comprehensive approach to the assessment of food addiction. This should include consideration of dietary restraint, and the presence of symptoms of other psychiatric disorders (substance use, posttraumatic stress, depressive, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity) to guide treatments including nutrition interventions. The purpose of this review is to help clinicians identify the symptoms of food addiction (true positives, or “the signal”) from the more classic eating pathology (true negatives, or “restraint”) that can potentially elevate food addiction scores (false positives, or “the noise”). Three clinical vignettes are presented, designed to aid with the assessment process, case conceptualization, and treatment strategies. The review summarizes logical steps that clinicians can take to contextualize elevated food addiction scores, even when the use of validated research instruments is not practical.

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“…There were significant correlations between stress and internet use and smartphone use, and these associations were well shown in regression analysis. Stress is thought to play a role in the development of addiction by increasing craving and motivation toward the addictive behavior [ 42 ]. The association between stress and addictive behaviors may be bidirectional; such addictive behaviors may be used as a means of reducing stress, and blunted stress responses may confer an increased risk of engaging in addictive behaviors [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stress is thought to play a role in the development of addiction by increasing craving and motivation toward the addictive behavior. 42 The association between stress and addictive behaviors may be bidirectional; such addictive behaviors may be used as a means of reducing stress, and blunted stress responses may confer an increased risk of engaging in addictive behaviors. 42 On the other hand, in the regression analysis, there were no association was observed between alcohol and stress as in the previous study, 7 and this was the same in correlation analysis.…”

Section: Associations Between Stress and Internet Smartphone And Alco...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Addictive Behaviors in Medical Students and Their Association With Stress

Lee

Won

Chang

et al. 2022

Psychiatry Investig

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Objective This study aims to investigate the prevalence of the addictive use of the internet, smartphone, and alcohol in medical students, the association of this addictive use with stress, and the mediating roles of resilience and self-esteem in this association.Methods A total of 866 medical students completed measures of three addictive uses as well as psychological scales for stress, resilience, and self-esteem. Correlation analyses and parallel mediation analysis were carried out.Results The prevalence of potential-risk and high-risk users was 5.8% and 1.7% for internet use, 5.4% and 2.2% for smartphone use, 22.6% and 5.3% for alcohol use, respectively. All three addictive behaviors tended to increase in terms of prevalence or mean score according to an increase in a students’ grade. Stress was positively correlated with internet use (r=0.324, p<0.001) and smartphone use (r=0.347, p<0.001). Resilience and self-esteem were found to be mediators in the association between stress and internet use or smartphone use.Conclusion These findings suggest that addictions in medical students are as prevalent as in a general population and that internet use and smartphone use may be better explained by a stress-addiction model with resilience and self-esteem as mediators than alcohol use.

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Cumulative lifetime stress exposure predicts greater impulsivity and addictive behaviors

Cited by 32 publications

References 59 publications

Stress and COVID‐19 related behaviours: The mediating role of delay discounting

Stress and COVID‐19 related behaviours: The mediating role of delay discounting

Separating the Signal from the Noise: How Psychiatric Diagnoses Can Help Discern Food Addiction from Dietary Restraint

Prevalence of Addictive Behaviors in Medical Students and Their Association With Stress

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