Loss-of-control eating (LOCE) is a component of binge eating, which involves the subjective inabi... more Loss-of-control eating (LOCE) is a component of binge eating, which involves the subjective inability to refrain from eating or cease eating once started. LOCE behavior is highly prevalent and associated with adverse consequences, even without objective over-eating, and has also been found to be highly affect-driven. Affect-related eating motives, as well as eating expectancies, have also been found to be significant contributors to LOCE behavior in binge eating contexts. However, little is known about how motives and expectancies contribute to LOCE regardless of quantity of food eaten, much less the impact of motives on LOCE behaviors, or the role of expectancies on daily-level contributions to LOCE. The current study assessed the role of eating expectancies and motives on the relationship between affective states and LOCE behavior at the daily level. A national sample of United States (U.S.) adults (n = 109), who reported an average of two or more LOCE episodes per week, were recr...
This study examines a model of Loss of Control over eating (LOCOE) as a function of affective vul... more This study examines a model of Loss of Control over eating (LOCOE) as a function of affective vulnerabilities.
This study examines the role of anxiety and depression symptoms in predicting dietary choices in ... more This study examines the role of anxiety and depression symptoms in predicting dietary choices in emerging adults while accounting for sex differences in these relationships. Participants were 225 English speaking undergraduates enrolled in a university in southeastern United States. Participants were recruited through an online research recruitment application utilized by the university. Participants volunteered for a two-phased anonymous survey monitoring the effects of eating habits and gastrointestinal health in young adults. As part of this effort, participants completed self-reporting measures related to anxiety and depression, as well as an automated, self-administered 24-h diet recall. Multigroup path analysis was used to test primary hypotheses. Overall, a decrease in total caloric intake and an increase in sugar consumption were found as self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression increased. In addition, there were sex differences in the relationship between depression...
OBJECTIVE: First-time-in-college (FTIC) students, or college freshmen, are at a heightened risk o... more OBJECTIVE: First-time-in-college (FTIC) students, or college freshmen, are at a heightened risk of experiencing alcohol-related consequences, as these individuals are relatively inexperienced with alcohol and have tremendous pressure to assimilate to new norms. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based format, to increase the use of Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) among FTIC students. METHOD: FTIC students (n = 157) completed weekly surveys for six weeks, which examined alcohol use and consequences, PBS use, and perceived PBS norms. Participants were randomly assigned one of three conditions: 1) a positive-framed message about individuals who do use PBS, 2) a negative-framed message about individuals who do not use PBS, or 3) a control group that received no messaging. RESULTS: Results suggest the negative-framed message increases PBS use across time for individuals high PBS norms, consistent with DRT. ...
The current study had two aims. First, we tested three norm-based interventions to increase socia... more The current study had two aims. First, we tested three norm-based interventions to increase social distancing practices. Second, we examined five potential concerns related to COVID-19 infection as prospective predictors of social distancing practices over the next two weeks.
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, Aug 1, 2018
Several theories posit problematic alcohol use develops through mechanisms of positive and negati... more Several theories posit problematic alcohol use develops through mechanisms of positive and negative reinforcement. However, the literature on these mechanisms remains inconsistent. This may be due to a number of issues including a failure to disaggregate negative mood or a failure to account for mood functioning (i.e., stability in mood). Alternatively, there may be differences in typical postdrinking/evening mood on drinking and nondrinking days, however, this has yet to be fully explored. We examined multiple indices of distinct mood states prior to and after typical drinking onset times on drinking and nondrinking days using ecological momentary assessment. College student drinkers ( = 102) carried personal data devices for 15 days. They reported on mood and alcohol use several times per day. Tonic positive mood was higher on drinking days than nondrinking days prior to typical drinking initiation. After typical drinking times, positive mood was higher on drinking days than nondr...
The empirical structure of eating disorder (ED) pathology has often been studied in female, clini... more The empirical structure of eating disorder (ED) pathology has often been studied in female, clinical samples, leaving questions about the structure of ED pathology in males and nonclinical samples. A latent class analysis was performed on data combined from two different studies (N = 1,751) using the behavioral items in the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q; binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative use, and excessive exercise), with the addition of an item representing restraint. Validation analyses examined weight, shape, and eating concern among the classes. Three similar classes emerged for both the men and women's models: very low ED behaviors, binge eating, and high ED behaviors. These results suggest that binge eating occurs within the context of lower symptom and higher symptom presentations, and that the empirical structure of ED symptoms does not differ in men and women in the nonclinical population. Further research is needed to clarify whether ED p...
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
Little previous research has clarified which types of smartphone use are related to problematic s... more Little previous research has clarified which types of smartphone use are related to problematic smartphone behaviors. We sampled 309 community participants online to understand the role of content consumption vs. social smartphone use in relation to specific problematic smartphone behaviors. Bivariate correlations indicated mostly significant relationships between problematic smartphone behaviors and both process and social usage – but with stronger correlations for process usage. Regression analyses, controlling for age and gender, demonstrated that problematic smartphone-related overuse was significantly associated with process smartphone usage, and to a lesser extent - social usage. Positive anticipation problem behaviors were related to process and social usage. Daily life disturbances from a smartphone were inversely related to process and social usage. Results provide insight into the types of problem smartphone behaviors associated with specific uses and gratifications from a...
Given recent state legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and majority popula... more Given recent state legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and majority popular opinion favoring these laws, we developed the Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana scale (PBSM) to identify strategies that may mitigate the harms related to marijuana use among those young people who choose to use the drug. In the current study, we expand on the initial exploratory study of the PBSM to further validate the measure with a large and geographically diverse sample (N = 2,117; 60% women, 30% non-White) of college students from 11 different universities across the United States. We sought to develop a psychometrically sound item bank for the PBSM and to create a short assessment form that minimizes respondent burden and time. Quantitative item analyses, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with item response theory (IRT) and evaluation of differential item functioning (DIF), revealed an item bank of 36 items that was examined for unidimensionality and good content coverage, as well as a short form of 17 items that is free of bias in terms of gender (men vs. women), race (White vs. non-White), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic), and recreational marijuana use legal status (state recreational marijuana was legal for 25.5% of participants). We also provide a scoring table for easy transformation from sum scores to IRT scale scores. The PBSM item bank and short form associated strongly and negatively with past month marijuana use and consequences. The measure may be useful to researchers and clinicians conducting intervention and prevention programs with young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record
Loss-of-control eating (LOCE) is a component of binge eating, which involves the subjective inabi... more Loss-of-control eating (LOCE) is a component of binge eating, which involves the subjective inability to refrain from eating or cease eating once started. LOCE behavior is highly prevalent and associated with adverse consequences, even without objective over-eating, and has also been found to be highly affect-driven. Affect-related eating motives, as well as eating expectancies, have also been found to be significant contributors to LOCE behavior in binge eating contexts. However, little is known about how motives and expectancies contribute to LOCE regardless of quantity of food eaten, much less the impact of motives on LOCE behaviors, or the role of expectancies on daily-level contributions to LOCE. The current study assessed the role of eating expectancies and motives on the relationship between affective states and LOCE behavior at the daily level. A national sample of United States (U.S.) adults (n = 109), who reported an average of two or more LOCE episodes per week, were recr...
This study examines a model of Loss of Control over eating (LOCOE) as a function of affective vul... more This study examines a model of Loss of Control over eating (LOCOE) as a function of affective vulnerabilities.
This study examines the role of anxiety and depression symptoms in predicting dietary choices in ... more This study examines the role of anxiety and depression symptoms in predicting dietary choices in emerging adults while accounting for sex differences in these relationships. Participants were 225 English speaking undergraduates enrolled in a university in southeastern United States. Participants were recruited through an online research recruitment application utilized by the university. Participants volunteered for a two-phased anonymous survey monitoring the effects of eating habits and gastrointestinal health in young adults. As part of this effort, participants completed self-reporting measures related to anxiety and depression, as well as an automated, self-administered 24-h diet recall. Multigroup path analysis was used to test primary hypotheses. Overall, a decrease in total caloric intake and an increase in sugar consumption were found as self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression increased. In addition, there were sex differences in the relationship between depression...
OBJECTIVE: First-time-in-college (FTIC) students, or college freshmen, are at a heightened risk o... more OBJECTIVE: First-time-in-college (FTIC) students, or college freshmen, are at a heightened risk of experiencing alcohol-related consequences, as these individuals are relatively inexperienced with alcohol and have tremendous pressure to assimilate to new norms. The current study investigates the use of a Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention, presented in a web-based format, to increase the use of Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) among FTIC students. METHOD: FTIC students (n = 157) completed weekly surveys for six weeks, which examined alcohol use and consequences, PBS use, and perceived PBS norms. Participants were randomly assigned one of three conditions: 1) a positive-framed message about individuals who do use PBS, 2) a negative-framed message about individuals who do not use PBS, or 3) a control group that received no messaging. RESULTS: Results suggest the negative-framed message increases PBS use across time for individuals high PBS norms, consistent with DRT. ...
The current study had two aims. First, we tested three norm-based interventions to increase socia... more The current study had two aims. First, we tested three norm-based interventions to increase social distancing practices. Second, we examined five potential concerns related to COVID-19 infection as prospective predictors of social distancing practices over the next two weeks.
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, Aug 1, 2018
Several theories posit problematic alcohol use develops through mechanisms of positive and negati... more Several theories posit problematic alcohol use develops through mechanisms of positive and negative reinforcement. However, the literature on these mechanisms remains inconsistent. This may be due to a number of issues including a failure to disaggregate negative mood or a failure to account for mood functioning (i.e., stability in mood). Alternatively, there may be differences in typical postdrinking/evening mood on drinking and nondrinking days, however, this has yet to be fully explored. We examined multiple indices of distinct mood states prior to and after typical drinking onset times on drinking and nondrinking days using ecological momentary assessment. College student drinkers ( = 102) carried personal data devices for 15 days. They reported on mood and alcohol use several times per day. Tonic positive mood was higher on drinking days than nondrinking days prior to typical drinking initiation. After typical drinking times, positive mood was higher on drinking days than nondr...
The empirical structure of eating disorder (ED) pathology has often been studied in female, clini... more The empirical structure of eating disorder (ED) pathology has often been studied in female, clinical samples, leaving questions about the structure of ED pathology in males and nonclinical samples. A latent class analysis was performed on data combined from two different studies (N = 1,751) using the behavioral items in the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q; binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative use, and excessive exercise), with the addition of an item representing restraint. Validation analyses examined weight, shape, and eating concern among the classes. Three similar classes emerged for both the men and women's models: very low ED behaviors, binge eating, and high ED behaviors. These results suggest that binge eating occurs within the context of lower symptom and higher symptom presentations, and that the empirical structure of ED symptoms does not differ in men and women in the nonclinical population. Further research is needed to clarify whether ED p...
Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
Little previous research has clarified which types of smartphone use are related to problematic s... more Little previous research has clarified which types of smartphone use are related to problematic smartphone behaviors. We sampled 309 community participants online to understand the role of content consumption vs. social smartphone use in relation to specific problematic smartphone behaviors. Bivariate correlations indicated mostly significant relationships between problematic smartphone behaviors and both process and social usage – but with stronger correlations for process usage. Regression analyses, controlling for age and gender, demonstrated that problematic smartphone-related overuse was significantly associated with process smartphone usage, and to a lesser extent - social usage. Positive anticipation problem behaviors were related to process and social usage. Daily life disturbances from a smartphone were inversely related to process and social usage. Results provide insight into the types of problem smartphone behaviors associated with specific uses and gratifications from a...
Given recent state legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and majority popula... more Given recent state legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and majority popular opinion favoring these laws, we developed the Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana scale (PBSM) to identify strategies that may mitigate the harms related to marijuana use among those young people who choose to use the drug. In the current study, we expand on the initial exploratory study of the PBSM to further validate the measure with a large and geographically diverse sample (N = 2,117; 60% women, 30% non-White) of college students from 11 different universities across the United States. We sought to develop a psychometrically sound item bank for the PBSM and to create a short assessment form that minimizes respondent burden and time. Quantitative item analyses, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with item response theory (IRT) and evaluation of differential item functioning (DIF), revealed an item bank of 36 items that was examined for unidimensionality and good content coverage, as well as a short form of 17 items that is free of bias in terms of gender (men vs. women), race (White vs. non-White), ethnicity (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic), and recreational marijuana use legal status (state recreational marijuana was legal for 25.5% of participants). We also provide a scoring table for easy transformation from sum scores to IRT scale scores. The PBSM item bank and short form associated strongly and negatively with past month marijuana use and consequences. The measure may be useful to researchers and clinicians conducting intervention and prevention programs with young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Papers by Robert Dvorak