ORCID

0000-0001-5853-3924

Keywords

binge-eating ecological protective strategies, binge-eating disorder, protective behavioral strategies, harm reduction, binge eating

Abstract

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a highly deleterious mental illness, with ramifications ranging from psychological impairment to premature mortality. Despite the awareness of intervention urgency, treatment strategies to manage BED have limited long-term efficacy. Therefore, it is of high necessity to illuminate other methods of reducing the potential effects of binge eating (BE), either by combatting severity or frequency of the behavior. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS), first identified in the substance use field, are methods by which an individual attenuates potential harm from a behavior without expectation of abstaining (i.e., a harm reduction approach). Given high likelihood of treatment relapse for BED and the similarities in reinforcing mechanisms for substance use and BE, there has been a call for assessing the fit of harm reduction strategies for BE. This project developed and assessed a measure of real-world PBS for BE: the Binge-Eating Ecological Protective Strategies (BEEPS) survey. Study 1 was qualitative item identification, in which individuals with BED, individuals who binge eat without BED, and healthy controls engaged in interviews, resulting in 116 unique strategy endorsements, mapping onto 6 qualitative themes. Cognitive interviewing was used to assure comprehensibility and refine or remove items. In Study 2, general population adults completed a survey of the refined 72 items to identify and confirm factor structure, as well as assess measure validity and reliability across two time points.  The final survey was 20 items with a five-factor solution, which was additionally confirmed in an additional sample. Finally, Study 3 adapted items for ecological momentary assessment to ascertain whether strategy effectiveness and number of strategies employed influenced BE likelihood for individuals with BED and healthy controls. In real time, strategy effectiveness evinced more main and interactive BE likelihood reduction than number of strategies used. Clinical utility of findings is discussed.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Dvorak, Robert

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Identifier

DP0053095

Download

Share

COinS
 

Accessibility Statement

This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.