Is the Relationship Between Binge Eating Episodes and Personality Attributable to Genetic Factors?

Aspects of disordered eating and personality traits, such as neuroticism, are correlated and individually heritable. We examined the phenotypic correlation between binge eating episodes and indices of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and control/impulsivity). For correlations ≥|0.20|, we estimated the extent to which genetic and environmental factors contributed to this correlation. Participants included 3,446 European American same-sex female twins from the Missouri Adolescent Female Twin Study (median age = 22 years). Binge eating episode was assessed via interview questions. Personality traits were assessed by self-report questionnaires. There was a significant moderate phenotypic correlation between binge eating episode and neuroticism (r = 0.33) as well as conscientiousness (r = -0.21), while other correlations were significant but smaller (r ranging from -0.14 to 0.14). Individual differences in binge eating episodes, neuroticism, and conscientiousness were attributed to additive genetic influences (38% [95% CI: 21–53%], 45% [95% CI: 38–52%], and 44% [95% CI: 0.33–0.55%] respectively), with the remaining variance attributed to individual-specific environmental influences. Covariance was attributable to genetic (neuroticism rg = 0.37; conscientiousness rg = -0.22) and individual-specific environmental (neuroticism re = 0.28; conscientiousness re = -0.19) influences. Personality traits may be an early indicator of genetic vulnerability to a variety of pathological behaviors, including binge eating episode. Furthermore, prior research documenting phenotypic correlations between eating disorder diagnoses and personality may have stemmed from etiological overlap between these personality traits and aspects of disordered eating, such as binge eating episode.

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The Twin Study of Negative Valence Emotional Constructs

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2016.59 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 456-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Dever M. Carney ◽

Elizabeth Moroney ◽

Laura Machlin ◽

Shannon Hahn ◽

Jeanne E. Savage ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Twin Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Negative Valence ◽

Twin Registry ◽

Sample Characteristics ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

The Relationship ◽

Underlying Risk ◽

Selection Of

The Twin Study of Negative Valence Emotional Constructs is a multi-site study designed to examine the relationship between a broad selection of potential measures designed to assess putative endophenotypes for negative valence systems (NVS) and early symptoms of internalizing disorders (IDs). In this article, we describe the sample characteristics, data collection protocols, and measures used. Pre-adolescent Caucasian twin pairs were recruited through the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry; data collection began in February of 2013. Enrolled twins completed various dimensional self-report measures along with cognitive, emotional, and psychophysiological tasks designed to assess NVS function. Parents also completed surveys about their twins and themselves. In addition, a subset of the twins also participated in a neuroimaging protocols. Data collection is in the final stages, and preliminary analyses are underway. The findings will potentially expand our understanding of the mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in NVS phenotypes and provide new insights into underlying risk factors for IDs.

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The Relationship Between Narcissism and Personality Traits of the Five-Factor-Model in Adolescents and Young Adults

Zeitschrift für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie ◽

10.1024/1422-4917/a000588 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 516-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marc Allroggen ◽

Peter Rehmann ◽

Eva Schürch ◽

Carolyn C. Morf ◽

Michael Kölch

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Self Report ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Personality Factors ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Grandiose Narcissism ◽

Vulnerable Narcissism ◽

The Relationship

Abstract.Narcissism is seen as a multidimensional construct that consists of two manifestations: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. In order to define these two manifestations, their relationship to personality factors has increasingly become of interest. However, so far no studies have considered the relationship between different phenotypes of narcissism and personality factors in adolescents. Method: In a cross-sectional study, we examine a group of adolescents (n = 98; average age 16.77 years; 23.5 % female) with regard to the relationship between Big Five personality factors and pathological narcissism using self-report instruments. This group is compared to a group of young adults (n = 38; average age 19.69 years; 25.6 % female). Results: Grandiose narcissism is primarily related to low Agreeableness and Extraversion, vulnerable narcissism to Neuroticism. We do not find differences between adolescents and young adults concerning the relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and personality traits. Discussion: Vulnerable and grandiose narcissism can be well differentiated in adolescents, and the pattern does not show substantial differences compared to young adults.

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In Search of the Prosocial Personality

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000276 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 55-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Anja Wertag ◽

Denis Bratko

Keyword(s):

Prosocial Behavior ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Dark Triad ◽

Self Report ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Prosocial behavior is intended to benefit others rather than oneself and is positively linked to personality traits such as Agreeableness and Honesty-Humility, and usually negatively to the Dark Triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy). However, a significant proportion of the research in this area is conducted solely on self-report measures of prosocial behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prosociality and the basic (i.e., HEXACO) and dark personality traits, comparing their contribution in predicting both self-reported prosociality and prosocial behavior. Results of the hierarchical regression analyses showed that the Dark Triad traits explain prosociality and prosocial behavior above and beyond the HEXACO traits, emphasizing the importance of the Dark Triad in the personality space.

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Binge Eating and Addictive-Like Behaviours in Males and Females

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294120971750 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003329412097175

Author(s):

Johanna Levallius ◽

Elin Monell ◽

Andreas Birgegård ◽

David Clinton ◽

Emma Forsén Mantilla

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Binge Eating ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Food Addiction ◽

Community Sample ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Compulsive Exercise ◽

Males And Females ◽

Common Behaviour ◽

The Relationship

Introduction Binge eating is a common behaviour that is strongly linked to both obesity and eating disorder. There is evidence that binge eating commonly co-occurs with other problematic and addictive-like behaviours; however, this has not been explored systematically. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between binge eating, body weight, disordered eating behaviours and associated addictive-like behaviours, with particular attention paid to gender differences. Method A community sample ( N = 500; 75% female, Mage = 32.5 years) reported disordered eating behaviours (i.e. binge eating, purging, restriction of eating, compulsive exercise), body mass index (BMI), food addiction, starvation addiction, exercise dependence, tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Results 42% of females and 21% of males reported binge eating during the past four weeks. Binge eating was significantly associated with all investigated behaviours in females, and with purging, compulsive exercise and overweight/obesity in males. Controlling for BMI, self-starvation predicted binge eating in males (OR = 1.07), while food addiction (OR = 1.73) and alcohol dependence (OR = 1.11) predicted binge eating in females. Conclusions The multiple associations between binge eating and addictive-like behaviors supports broad screening and generalized prevention efforts. Prevention efforts should reflect gender differences.

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Twin Study of the Relationship between Childhood Negative Emotionality and Hyperactivity/Inattention Problems

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2021.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 7-13

Author(s):

Yoon-Mi Hur ◽

Hoe-Uk Jeong

Keyword(s):

Genetic Factors ◽

Environmental Influences ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Negative Emotionality ◽

Phenotypic Correlation ◽

Environmental Correlation ◽

South Korean ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Opposite Sex ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThe present study aimed to determine the genetic and environmental etiology of the association between childhood negative emotionality (NE) and hyperactivity/inattention problems (HIP) using South Korean elementary school twins (mean age = 10.19 years, SD = 1.79 years). Telephone interviews were given to mothers of 919 twins (229 monozygotic males: 112 pairs and 5 individuals; 148 dizygotic males: 73 pairs and 2 individuals; 180 monozygotic females: 87 pairs and 6 individuals; 103 dizygotic females: 50 pairs and 3 individuals; 259 opposite-sex dizygotic twins: 127 pairs and 5 individuals) to assess their children’s NE and HIP. Consistent with prior studies, the phenotypic correlation between NE and the HIP was moderate (r = .29; 95% CI = .24, .34). Model-fitting analysis revealed that additive genetic and nonshared environmental influences on NE were .45 (95% CI [.34, .54]) and .55 (95% CI [.46, .66]), respectively, and that additive and nonadditive genetic, and nonshared environmental influences on HIP were .08 (95% CI [.03, .26]), .41 (95% CI [.21, .51]) and .51 (95% CI = .42, .61), respectively. In addition, the additive genetic correlation between NE and HIP was 1.0 (95% CI [.52, 1.00]), indicating that additive genetic factors are entirely shared between the two phenotypes. Nonadditive genetic influences were unique to HIP and not responsible for the NE-HIP association. Nonshared environmental correlation was significant but modest (re = .18, 95% CI [.06, .30]).

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Problematic eating behaviors in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: Studying their relationship with psychopathology

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105320986889 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910532098688

Author(s):

Marta de Lourdes ◽

Ana Pinto-Bastos ◽

Paulo PP Machado ◽

Eva Conceição

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorder ◽

Binge Eating ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Self Report ◽

Grazing Behavior ◽

Face To Face ◽

Bariatric Patients ◽

Problematic Eating ◽

Problematic Eating Behaviors

This study explored the associations between individuals presenting different problematic eating behaviors (Objective/Subjective binge-eating—OBE/SBE—and Compulsive/Non-compulsive grazing—C_Grazing/NC_Grazing) and eating disorder related symptoms. About 163 pre- and 131 post-bariatric patients were assessed. Assessment included: Face-to-face clinical interview to assess binge-eating and grazing episodes, and self-report measures to assess eating disorder symptomatology, psychological distress, and negative urgency. OBE and NC_Grazing were the problematic eating behaviors most and least associated with psychopathology, respectively. OBE and C_Grazing uniquely accounted for the significant variance in the most disordered eating variables. Our findings emphasize the need for the conceptualization of grazing behavior in the spectrum of disordered eating.

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The role of rash-impulsivity, emotional dysregulation and reward drive in comorbid disordered eating and substance use disorders

Advances in Dual Diagnosis ◽

10.1108/add-01-2021-0002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Natalie Merinuk ◽

Stephanie C. Varcoe ◽

Peter J. Kelly ◽

Laura D. Robinson

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Emotional Dysregulation ◽

Self Report ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

The Relationship

Purpose Substance use disorder (SUD) frequently co-occurs with other psychological conditions, such as eating disorders (EDs). Psychological factors such as emotional dysregulation, rash impulsivity (RI) and reward sensitivity (RS) play a role in the etiology of each disorder, yet little is known about the combined effects of these on comorbid SUDs and EDs or disordered eating behaviours (DEBs). This study aims to examine the role of these psychological factors in comorbid DEBs and SUDs among individuals in treatment for SUDs. The role of gender is tested as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional self-report survey was completed by 131 participants attending Australian residential substance use treatment centres. A binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of emotional dysregulation, RI and RS on comorbid DEB and SUD. Further, moderation analyses were used to examine the moderating effect for gender on the relationship between these three personality variables and comorbidity. Findings The most commonly reported primary substance of use was alcohol (43.5%), followed by amphetamines (38.6%). Findings showed that emotional dysregulation and RI were significantly related to an increase in comorbidity likelihood; however, RS was not. Gender moderated the relationship between comorbidity and RI only. Originality/value The significant positive relationship found between RI and comorbidity for females only was a novel finding for the current study. Further research is needed to develop an understanding of the etiology of comorbidity.

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Genetic and Environmental Influences on Smoking Behavior across Adolescence and Young Adulthood in the Virginia Twin Study of Adolescent Behavioral Development and the Transitions to Substance Abuse Follow-Up

Twin Research and Human Genetics ◽

10.1017/thg.2014.78 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Elizabeth K. Do ◽

Elizabeth C. Prom-Wormley ◽

Lindon J. Eaves ◽

Judy L. Silberg ◽

Donna R. Miles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Twin Study ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Smoking Initiation ◽

Study Results ◽

Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

The Relationship

Little is known regarding the underlying relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked during adolescence into young adulthood. It is possible that the influences of genetic and environmental factors on this relationship vary across sex and age. To investigate this further, the current study applied a common causal contingency model to data from a Virginia-based twin study to determine: (1) if the same genetic and environmental factors are contributing to smoking initiation and current quantity smoked; (2) whether the magnitude of genetic and environmental factor contributions are the same across adolescence and young adulthood; and (3) if qualitative and quantitative differences in the sources of variance between males and females exist. Study results found no qualitative or quantitative sex differences in the relationship between smoking initiation and current quantity smoked, though relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors changed across adolescence and young adulthood. More specifically, smoking initiation and current quantity smoked remain separate constructs until young adulthood, when liabilities are correlated. Smoking initiation is explained by genetic, shared, and unique environmental factors in early adolescence and by genetic and unique environmental factors in young adulthood; while current quantity smoked is explained by shared environmental and unique environmental factors until young adulthood, when genetic and unique environmental factors play a larger role.

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Drunkorexia: empirical investigation and analysis of the characteristics of the phenomenon in an Italian sample of adolescents and young adults

Psychology Society & Education ◽

10.25115/psye.v10i3.2135 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 285 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giada Pietrabissa ◽

Alessandro Rossi ◽

Michela Gaudenzi ◽

Venessa Bertuzzi ◽

Andrea Tagliagambe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Weight Control ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Self Report ◽

Drinking Problems ◽

The Relationship ◽

Italian Sample

Introduction: the term drunkorexia refers to the act of self-imposed utilization of extreme weight control methods to compensate for alcohol consumption typically observed among university students. Despite its diffusion, there is a lack of research investigating the presence of this new alarming trend in Italy. Aim: this study estimates the frequency of drunkorexia behaviours in a sample of Italian youth aged 14-24, explores the motivations for alcohol consumption among those presenting drunkorexia-type behaviours, and examines the relationship between drunkorexia and disordered eating. Methods: drunkorexia behaviors, eating habits and motives for alcohol use were investigated in 403 subjects (F=301, M=102) aged 14-24 through self-report questionnaires. A series of analyses, including descriptive statistics, univariate analysis of the variance and multiple regressions were run. Results: 62.5% of the sample showed drunkorexia-type behaviours. Drunkorexia was related to disordered eating, especially among females older than eighteen. Discussion and Conclusions: this the first study investigating the incidence of drunkorexia behaviors in a sample of youth living in Northern Italy. Evidence-based interventions for eating disorders and drinking problems should inspire the development of ad hoc preventive and treatment actions for drunkorexia.

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The association between body dysmorphic symptoms and suicidality among adolescents and young adults: a genetically informative study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720002998 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Georgina Krebs ◽

Lorena Fernández de la Cruz ◽

Frühling V. Rijsdijk ◽

Daniel Rautio ◽

Jesper Enander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Regression Models ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Body Dysmorphic Disorder ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Self Report ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Substantial Risk ◽

The Relationship ◽

Report Measure

Abstract Background Previous research indicates that body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is associated with risk of suicidality. However, studies have relied on small and/or specialist samples and largely focussed on adults, despite these difficulties commonly emerging in youth. Furthermore, the aetiology of the relationship remains unknown. Methods Two independent twin samples were identified through the Child and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden, at ages 18 (N = 6027) and 24 (N = 3454). Participants completed a self-report measure of BDD symptom severity. Young people and parents completed items assessing suicidal ideation/behaviours. Logistic regression models tested the association of suicidality outcomes with: (a) probable BDD, classified using an empirically derived cut-off; and (b) continuous scores of BDD symptoms. Bivariate genetic models examined the aetiology of the association between BDD symptoms and suicidality at both ages. Results Suicidal ideation and behaviours were common among those with probable BDD at both ages. BDD symptoms, measured continuously, were linked with all aspects of suicidality, and associations generally remained significant after adjusting for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Genetic factors accounted for most of the covariance between BDD symptoms and suicidality (72.9 and 77.7% at ages 18 and 24, respectively), but with significant non-shared environmental influences (27.1 and 22.3% at ages 18 and 24, respectively). Conclusions BDD symptoms are associated with a substantial risk of suicidal ideation and behaviours in late adolescence and early adulthood. This relationship is largely explained by common genetic liability, but non-shared environmental effects are also significant and could provide opportunities for prevention among those at high-risk.

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