Impact of Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use on Disordered Eating and Suicidality: A Moderated Mediation Study

Abstract

While previous studies have tested the mediating or moderating effects of select factors on disordered eating pathologies, no empirical studies have examined a moderated mediation model. Thus, filling a gap in the literature base, the current study examined a moderated mediation model to test the associations among disordered eating, depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and suicidality. The current study sample included 1,598 students (mean age 21.3 years; 80.9% female) across major universities in the United States. Results showed that disordered eating was significantly associated with suicidality, and the association was mediated by depressive symptoms. Further, the indirect effect of disordered eating via depressive symptoms varied in magnitude as a function of alcohol use. Findings suggest that clinical mental health counselors and other providers working with emerging adults should be vigilant in recognizing behaviors and thoughts associated with disordered eating and related signs and symptoms, including depressive symptoms and alcohol use.

Eating Disorders During Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…One cross-sectional study found no relationship between ED symptoms and depressive symptoms (Hasselle et al, 2017). Another study found that disordered eating was associated with both suicidality and depressive symptoms in a sample of predominantly female EAs (Mugoya et al, 2018) Another indicated that a range of ED symptoms were associated with depressive symptoms in female EAs, but only restrained eating was associated with depressive symptoms in male EAs (Rawana et al, 2016). Another study focused specifically on EAs with T1D, and found that female EAs with both ED and T1D had higher levels of depression than female EAs with T1D but without ED.…”