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Food and Alcohol Disturbance in High School Adolescents: Prevalence, Characteristics and Association with Problem Drinking and Eating Disorders

Author

Listed:
  • Federica Pinna

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Federico Suprani

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Pasquale Paribello

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Paola Milia

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Lucia Sanna

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Mirko Manchia

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy
    Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Graziella Boi

    (Department of Mental Health and Addictions, ASL Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Annadele Pes

    (Department of Mental Health and Addictions, ASL Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Lorena Lai

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Valeria Deiana

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Silvia Lostia di Santa Sofia

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Laura Puddu

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Francesca Fatteri

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Alice Ghiani

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Alice Lai

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Bernardo Carpiniello

    (Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09127 Cagliari, Italy)

Abstract

Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) is characterized by the association of alcohol use with compensatory behaviors such as restricting calories, physical activity and purging. Despite not being part of the current nosography, research has grown in the past 10 years, mostly on college students’ samples. In this study, we aim to describe the prevalence, characteristics and association of FAD with problem drinking (PD) and eating disorder risk (EDR) in a sample of Italian high school students. Participants were 900 high school students (53.6% males; mean age = 16.22) that were administered standardized questionnaires. Students who screened positive for PD, EDR and both were, respectively, 17.3%, 5.9% and 1.3%. Approximately one out four students reported FAD behaviors, mostly to control weight and by restricting calories, with higher prevalence and severity among those who screened positive for PD. Purging behaviors were rare overall (15.5%), but significantly more frequent in participants who screened positive for both PD and EDR (41.7%). FAD was more strongly associated with alcohol use severity than with ED symptom severity across all subgroups. FAD behaviors appear to be common in the Italian high school population and more strongly associated with PD. Future studies should investigate FAD’s impact on adolescents’ functioning and possible early interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Pinna & Federico Suprani & Pasquale Paribello & Paola Milia & Lucia Sanna & Mirko Manchia & Graziella Boi & Annadele Pes & Lorena Lai & Valeria Deiana & Silvia Lostia di Santa Sofia & Laura P, 2024. "Food and Alcohol Disturbance in High School Adolescents: Prevalence, Characteristics and Association with Problem Drinking and Eating Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:1:p:83-:d:1317166
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniele Di Tata & Dora Bianchi & Sara Pompili & Fiorenzo Laghi, 2023. "The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alcohol Abuse and Drunkorexia Behaviors in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Charles D. H. Parry & Niamh Fitzgerald, 2020. "Special Issue: Alcohol Policy and Public Health—Contributing to the Global Debate on Accelerating Action on Alcohol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-7, May.
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