Assessing the Impact of Gain and Loss Messages on Drunkorexia

Authors

  • Tavis Glassman
  • Monita Karmakar
  • Tom Castor
  • Alexis Blavos
  • Jessica Kruger
  • Aaron Diehr
  • Victoria Wagner-Greene
  • Amy Wotring

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2016.145

Keywords:

alcohol, college students, high-risk drinking, drunkorexia

Abstract

The term drunkorexia refers to a maladaptive behavior characterized by caloric restriction and/or increased exercise to compensate for calories consumed from alcohol. The objective of this study was to compare loss and gain-framed prevention messages focusing on dietary issues and alcohol. Researchers employed a quasi-experimental design using repeated-measures. Participants (n = 211) received messages in person, via email, and via text message. Individuals exposed to gain-framed messages decreased alcohol consumption and reported a reduction in maladaptive exercise. None of the messages elicited increased drunkorexic behavior, indicating that educating college students about the calories associated with alcohol does not result in deleterious outcomes.

Author Biographies

Tavis Glassman

Tavis Glassman, PhD, MCHES, University of Toledo, College of Health & Human Services, 2801 W. Bancroft Street, Toledo, OH 43606, (p) 419.530.2770,(f) 419.530.4759

Monita Karmakar

Monita Karmakar, MS, University of Toledo, College of Health & Human Services

Tom Castor

Tom Castor, MS, University of Toledo, College of Health & Human Services

Alexis Blavos

Alexis Blavos, PhD, MCHES, SUNY Cortland, Health Department
15 Graham Avenue, Moff ett Center, Room 105, Cortland, NY 13045, (p) 607.753.2984

Jessica Kruger

Jessica Kruger, MS, University of Toledo, College of Health & Human Services

Aaron Diehr

Aaron Diehr, PhD, CHES Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Health Education and Recreation

Victoria Wagner-Greene

Victoria Wagner-Greene, MS University of Toledo, College of Health & Human Services

Amy Wotring

Amy Wotring, MS, University of Toledo College of Health & Human Services

Published

2020-11-12

How to Cite

Glassman, T., Karmakar, M., Castor, T., Blavos, A., Kruger, J., Diehr, A., Wagner-Greene, V., & Wotring, A. (2020). Assessing the Impact of Gain and Loss Messages on Drunkorexia. American Journal of Health Studies, 31(3). https://doi.org/10.47779/ajhs.2016.145