Disordered eating in relation to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, self-control, and sex-role ideology

Self-control scores showed the greatest association with a measure of social desirability, although there were weak links to eating disorder indices and level of alcohol use, and sex-role ideology emerged as the sole predictor of eating disorder measures.

Abstract

One hundred and sixty-seven female undergraduates completed a series of questionnaires assembled to assess indices of eating disorders relative to tobacco and alcohol use, self-control, and sex-role ideology. Data were subjected to correlational, factorial, regression and analysis of variance procedures. In general, results showed the eating disorder indices to be independent of smoking and drinking behaviour. Smoking status and alcohol consumption were significantly related in that nonsmokers consumed less alcohol and reported being drunk less often than either smokers or ex-smokers. Self-control scores showed the greatest association with a measure of social desirability, although there were weak links to eating disorder indices and level of alcohol use. Self-control also emerged as the sole predictor of eating disorder measures. Finally, sex-role ideology was found to be a weak moderator of alcohol consumption such that the more feminist the ideology, the lower the level of intake.