Estimating the Development of Risk Factors Associated with Co-Occurrence of Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse in Military Personnel
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Date
2008-12-05
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Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to understand eating disorders risk factors and their relationship to substance abuse; hence their co- occurrence, among military personnel. A secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between these two disorders within the context of social learning theory, specifically applying the concept of drinking refusal self-efficacy.
One-hundred male military personnel referred for substance-abuse treatment at an outpatient substance abuse military facility in an eastern state were administered three separate measures, which screened for symptoms of eating disorders, hazardous alcohol use, and the individual’s perceived ability to refuse alcohol in specific situations. The Eating Disorders Inventory [EDI-2] (Garner, 1990), or the Eating Disorders Inventory [EDI-3] (Garner, 2004), The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] (World Health Organization, 1991) and the Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire [DRSEQ] (Young, Oei & Crook, 1991) respectively, were administered.
When compared to civilian males of approximately the same age group, male military personnel with substance abuse on average scored significantly higher on the Personal Alienation, Interpersonal Insecurity, Interpersonal Alienation and Emotional Dysregulation of the psychological subscales of the EDI-3. These finding suggest that military male personnel with substance abuse may be at risk for eating disorders with respect to these particular subscales. However, no significant difference between the two groups was found on the Drive For Thinness, Bulimia or Body Dissatisfaction of the EDI-3, which is the three primary subscale of the EDI-3, related to risk for developing eating disorders.
In examining, the relationship between eating disorders and drinking refusal self- efficacy the relationship between drinking refusal self- efficacy and substance abuse was examined first.
AUDIT scores significantly negatively predicted the total score of total score of the DRSEQ Thus hazardous alcohol use as measured by the AUDIT and used as a measure of substance abuse in the present study predicted an individual’s perceived ability to resist alcohol use( level of drinking refusal self- efficacy).
When the relationship between drinking refusal self-efficacy and eating disorders was examined, the results reflected a significant negative relationship between the total DRSEQ score and the Interpersonal Alienation, Emotional Dysregulation the Maturity Fears subscales scores of the EDI-3. The results suggest that drinking refusal-self efficacy predicts psychological risk factors related to eating disorders on these particular subscales of the EDI-3.
The study’s overall findings suggest that individuals with substance abuse experience psychological risk factors that are related to the development of eating disorders. In addition, the study’s findings suggests that an individual’s perceived ability to resist alcohol may also be associated with common psychological risk factors that are related to the development eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. The results have implications for future research and practice toward considering screening for eating disorders in military personnel with substance abuse disorders, and combining the utilization of drinking refusal self- efficacy measures as part of the screening and assessment processes when the co-occurrence of these two distinct disorders is likely.
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Eating Disorders, substance abuse, Co-ocurrence
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Degree
PhD
Discipline
Counselor Education
