Drunkorexia: Damaging and Dangerous Behavior Among Young Adults

Many young women report saving their calories for binge drinking episodes. This behavior can contribute to "drunkorexia," which is characterized by disordered patterns of eating to offset the negative effects of excess alcohol consumption, such as weight gain, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Australian Psychologist. Mojito, appletini or a simple glass of fizz - they may take the edge off a busy day, but if you find yourself bingeing on more than a few, you could be putting your physical and mental health at risk according to new research at the University of South Australia.

Examining the drinking patterns of 479 female Australian university students aged 18-24 years, the world-first empirical study explored the underlying belief patterns that can contribute to Drunkorexia - damaging and dangerous behavior.

Concerningly, researchers found that a staggering 82.7 percent of female university students surveyed had engaged in Drunkorexic behaviors over the past three months. And, more than 28 percent were regularly and purposely skipping meals, consuming low-calorie or sugar-free alcoholic beverages, purging or exercising after drinking to help reduce ingested calories from alcohol, at least 25 percent of the time.

Clinical psychologist and lead UniSA researcher Alycia Powell-Jones says the prevalence of Drunkorexic behaviors among Australian female university students is concerning.

"Due to their age and stage of development, young adults are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors, which can include drinking excess alcohol," Powell-Jones says.

"Certainly, many of us have drunk too much alcohol at some point in time, and we know just by how we feel the next day, that this is not good for us, but when nearly a third of young female uni students are intentionally cutting back on food purely to offset alcohol calories; it'sits a serious health concern.""

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The harmful use of alcohol is a global issue, with excess consumption causing millions of deaths, including many thousands of young lives.

In Australia, one in six people consume alcohol at dangerous levels, placing them at lifetime risk of an alcohol-related disease or injury. The combination of excessive alcohol intake with restrictive eating behaviors to offset calories can result in a highly toxic cocktail for this population.

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The study was undertaken in two stages. The first measured the prevalence of self-reported, compensative and restrictive activities in relation to their alcohol consumption.

The second stage identified participants'participants' Early Maladaptive Schemes (EMS) - or thought patterns - finding that that the subset of schemas most predictive of Drunkorexia was ''insufficient self-control'', ''emotional deprivation'' and ''social isolation''.

Powell-Jones says identifying the early maladaptive schemas linked to Drunkorexia is key to understanding the harmful condition.

These are deeply held and pervasive themes regarding oneself and one'sone's relationship with others that can develop in childhood and then can influence all areas of life, often in dysfunctional ways. Early maladaptive schemas can also be influenced by cultural and social norms.

Drunkorexic behavior appears to be motivated by two key social norms for young adults - consuming alcohol and thinness.

"This study has provided preliminary insight into better understanding why young female adults make these decisions to engage in Drunkorexic behaviors," Powell-Jones says.

"Not only may it be a coping strategy to manage social anxieties through becoming accepted and fitting in with peer group or cultural expectations, but it also shows a reliance on avoidant coping strategies.

"It is important that clinicians, educators, parents, and friends are aware of the factors that motivate young women to engage in this harmful and dangerous behavior, including cultural norms, beliefs that drive self-worth, a sense of belonging, and interpersonal connectedness.

"By being connected, researchers and clinicians can develop appropriate clinical interventions and support for vulnerable young people within the youth mental health sector."

Source-Eurekalert