Associations between Gambling, Frequency of Illicit Adderall Usage, and Body Image Among College Students

Authors: James Keough, Lina Begdache, Antoinetta Raymond, Julia Lin

SUNY Campus: Binghamton University

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 22

Timeslot: Session A 9:00-10:00 AM

Abstract: College students face diverse pressures that often lead to maladaptive coping behaviors, including illicit substance abuse, problematic gambling, and disordered eating. Adderall misuse is especially prevalent among individuals concerned with their body image. However, problematic gambling shares psychological factors with disordered eating and substance use such as impulsivity and emotional dysregulation. This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of these behaviors, and it is hypothesized that engagement in one risky behavior increases the likelihood of engaging in another. A total of 805 responses were collected from undergraduate students across the US using an anonymous Google Forms survey distributed via social media platforms. The survey included self-reported data on non-prescribed Adderall usage and frequency, the Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire Short (EDE - QS), and the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS). Data was analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient in SPSS 28.0. The results indicated a positive correlation between frequency of illicit ADHD medication use and disordered eating behaviors (making oneself sick (p<0.01), compulsive exercise (p<0.01), and loss of control while eating (p<0.05)), and problematic gambling behaviors (withdrawal-like symptoms (p<0.01), secrecy (p<0.01), and financial stress (p<0.01)). Problematic gambling behaviors were also positively correlated with disordered eating behaviors (p<0.01). These findings suggest a link between these behaviors, emphasizing the need for further research examining the underlying psychological mechanisms.