The roles of sex and Greek life affiliation in food and alcohol disturbance.

OBJECTIVE

Binge drinking and disordered eating are prevalent on college campuses and often co-occur. The current study sought to examine whether students in Greek life were at higher risk for food and alcohol disturbance (FAD).

PARTICIPANTS

560 undergraduate students completed the Drunkorexia Motives and Behaviors Scale (DMBS).

METHODS

ANOVAs assessed the effects of sex and Greek affiliation on DMBS subscale scores.

RESULTS

Female participants reported more drunkorexia motives, F(1, 427) = 5.25, p = .02, and behaviors, F(1, 427) = 5.01, p = .03, while males engaged in greater FAD behaviors during an alcohol consumption event, F(1, 427) = 4.42, p = .04. Greek-affiliated students also engaged in greater drunkorexia behaviors, F(1, 427) = 4.64, p = .03, and caloric restriction, F(1, 427) = 4.29, p = .04, while consuming alcohol.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest Greek students may be at higher risk for FAD, but specific risk may vary by sex.