Examining day-level predictors of food and alcohol disturbance: An application of the prototype willingness model.

OBJECTIVE

Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; caloric restriction before or during drinking alcohol to enhance alcohol's effects [FAD-intoxication] and/or to compensate for calories from alcohol [FAD-calories]) is common and poses concerns for public health. However, little is known regarding day-level risk factors of FAD. To address this gap, we applied the prototype willingness model to examine which cognitions (i.e., perceived vulnerability, social norms, attitudes, prototypes, intentions, and willingness) predict FAD at the within- and between-person levels.

METHOD: Participants were college students (n = 72) who reported weekly alcohol use and past-month FAD engagement. Participants identified primarily as female (73.8%), White non-Hispanic (51.4%), with a mean age of 19.64 (SD = 1.35). Participants completed a baseline survey as well as two daily surveys for 5 weeks.

RESULTS

At the within-person level, intentions and willingness predicted FAD-intoxication and FAD-calories. Further, willingness mediated the association between descriptive norms and prototype similarity with daily FAD-calories engagement. At the between-person level, attitudes as well as prototype similarity, positively associated with FAD-intoxication and FAD-calories.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study represents one of the most comprehensive multilevel examinations of risk factors for FAD to date, with implications for theory development and intervention efforts aimed at reducing FAD engagement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).