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Binge eating and substance use among male and female adolescents
Author(s) -
Ross Helen E.,
Ivis Frank
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199911)26:3<245::aid-eat2>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - binge eating , cannabis , binge drinking , psychology , substance use , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , substance abuse , mental health , disordered eating , psychiatry , eating disorders , developmental psychology , medicine , suicide prevention , poison control , environmental health , economics , macroeconomics
Objective This study examines the relationship between binge eating and substance use behaviors and attitudes in adolescents and explores gender differences and mental health correlates. Method The data are derived from the 1997 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey of public and Catholic school students. A weighted sample of 1,031 girls and 888 boys was categorized as nonbingers, past bingers, and noncompensating or compensating binge eaters. Results Binge eaters, particularly those who compensated, were more likely to use all types of substances, particularly cannabis and drugs other than tobacco and alcohol. Binge eating was associated with more problematic and heavier substance use and with lowered self‐esteem and more depression. Female bingers were more likely to report compensatory behaviors than male students but gender differences in the relationship between binge eating and substance use were few. Discussion Adolescent binge eaters who engage in compensatory behaviors may be an appropriate target group for preventive programs in high schools. © 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 26: 245–260, 1999.