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Applied Behavior Analysis

Theses/Dissertations

2020

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Full-Text Articles in Psychology

Variation In Personality Among Semi-Wild Myanmar Timber Elephants, Sateesh Venkatesh Dec 2020

Variation In Personality Among Semi-Wild Myanmar Timber Elephants, Sateesh Venkatesh

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines two personality traits: exploration and neophobia, which could influence human-elephant conflicts. Thirty-one semi-wild elephants were tested over two trials using a custom novel puzzle tube containing three tasks and three rewards. Our studies show that elephants do vary significantly between individuals in both exploration and neophobia.

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Corporations And The American Polity, Patrick Labossiere Dec 2020

Corporations And The American Polity, Patrick Labossiere

Student Theses and Dissertations

Research on corporate communications’ effects on politics presents an acknowledgement of a relationship between the two topics, leaving a void in the explanation and examination of this topic. The void presents an opening to introduce a conceptual process for how corporations are able to craft communications to influence the American Polity, the democratic social organization within the United States. This research begins with a historical review of how corporations gain prominence in American society, capturing the ability to participate in the democratic social organization of the polity. A qualitative analysis of several conceptual frameworks serves as data, to establish an …

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The Role Of Family Dynamics In Receiving Autism And Neurodevelopmental Services: A Needs Assessment, Bianca Kalia Dec 2020

The Role Of Family Dynamics In Receiving Autism And Neurodevelopmental Services: A Needs Assessment, Bianca Kalia

Master's Projects and Capstones

This study aims to document the effects an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) diagnosis, or other behavior disturbances has on the family unit as a whole. Through this analysis, we can develop measures that are personalized for the child with autism as well as the caregiver and family unit.

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An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Behavioral Skills Training On A Mindfulness-Based Protocol, Chealsy Darby Dec 2020

An Evaluation Of The Effects Of Behavioral Skills Training On A Mindfulness-Based Protocol, Chealsy Darby

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This evaluation examined the effects of behavioral skills training on the correct implementation of a mindfulness-based protocol by direct support staff who provide services to adults with intellectual disabilities in a community, residential setting. Participants included two direct support staff who provide services to two different adults with intellectual disabilities who have a mindfulness-based protocol as an intervention for problem behavior described in their behavior support plan. The participants were exposed to a behavioral skills training package and were required to demonstrate mastery criteria of the mindfulness-based protocol as part of their regular job duties. The results of this evaluation …

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A Systematic Quantitative Review Of Effective Implementation Of Self-Monitoring (1983-2020), Mary Louise Lewis Dec 2020

A Systematic Quantitative Review Of Effective Implementation Of Self-Monitoring (1983-2020), Mary Louise Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

A systematic quantitative review was conducted to analyze articles using self-monitoring in the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (JOBM) from 1983 to present. Specifically, the diversity of characteristics used when implementing a self-monitoring procedure were examined along with the effects produced in order to determine the most effective components of a self-monitoring intervention. Results indicate a combination of other interventions are used substantially more compared to self-monitoring as a sole intervention. Moreover, results from this particular sample of studies demonstrated that a combination of variables led to more consistent effects than when self-monitoring was applied as a sole intervention. However, …

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A Four-Session Workshop For Parents Of Children With Autism: Understanding And Managing Challenging Behaviors, And Supporting The Development Of Children With Asd, Vanessa Huizar Dec 2020

A Four-Session Workshop For Parents Of Children With Autism: Understanding And Managing Challenging Behaviors, And Supporting The Development Of Children With Asd, Vanessa Huizar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research studies continue to show that being a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges for many families including understanding ASD deficits and behaviors, and identifying effective ways to manage these behaviors. Because ASD interventions generally take a behaviorally-based approach, parents tend to lack an understanding of child development, positive child guidance practices, ways to build strong parent-child relationships, and methods to engage in enrichment activities that will support their child’s overall development. The purpose of the current project was to create a parent workshop to help parents of children with ASD: 1) understand the …

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A Literature Review: Applied Behavior Analysis And Performance; The Past, The Present, And The Future, Molly Patrice Fields Dec 2020

A Literature Review: Applied Behavior Analysis And Performance; The Past, The Present, And The Future, Molly Patrice Fields

MSU Graduate Theses

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and sports performance has been a topic of research since as early as the 1960s. ABA principles and interventions have been used all over in sports from enhancing athlete performance on the field, court, or course, sportsmanlike behaviors off the field, court, or course, and even looking into coaching behaviors. The purpose of this paper is twofold; to assess and analyze the current research for applied behavior analysis and sports and to use what literature is already established and systematically set the framework for future avenues of research and support a strong insert of applied behavior …

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Mathematics That Clarify Slope & Scale, Help Set Standards, And Improve Interrater Agreement On Time-Series Graphs, Chad Erick Liming Kinney Dec 2020

Mathematics That Clarify Slope & Scale, Help Set Standards, And Improve Interrater Agreement On Time-Series Graphs, Chad Erick Liming Kinney

Theses and Dissertations

This paper introduces new mathematic equations that clarify slope and scale and help overcome difficulties with visually interpreting slopes (or trends)--a significant culprit of poor interrater agreement (IRA) of graphed data. Three experiments tested applications of the equations and demonstrated the following results: (a) Graphic Variability Quotient (GVQ) manipulation strongly predicts viewer ratings (and accuracy) of behavior change, β = .895, R2 = .801, (b) mathematical standards that control the inherent variability in non-standard graphs can be empirically based (to facilitate reliable visual comparison), and (c) visual aids posted on graphs, such as angles of inclination and a simple slope …

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Evaluating A Graduated Exposure Treatment To Teach Mask Tolerance Among Children With Autism, Hallie Marie Ertel Dec 2020

Evaluating A Graduated Exposure Treatment To Teach Mask Tolerance Among Children With Autism, Hallie Marie Ertel

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a mask while out in a community setting (CDC, 2020a). It is important for children to learn how to tolerate wearing a mask for long durations of time while out in the community. In the current study, which was comprised of 2 experiments, we implemented a graduated exposure procedure to teach mask wearing to 6 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of experiment 1 was to evaluate the efficacy of a graduated exposure procedure to teach mask tolerance …

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Feedback And Social Comparison: The Effects Of Comparing One’S Performance To The Group, Ryan Joseph Walz Dec 2020

Feedback And Social Comparison: The Effects Of Comparing One’S Performance To The Group, Ryan Joseph Walz

Theses and Dissertations

Although feedback has been shown to improve performance, few studies have examined the effect of feedback containing information on peer performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of feedback on individual performance and feedback containing information on peer performance. Three participants were exposed to a no-feedback baseline condition, a standard individual feedback condition, and an individual feedback condition with information on the group’s average performance. The dependent variable was the rate of correct responses on a computer-based simulated work task. Withdrawal designs were used to evaluate the effect of the two types of feedback on performance. …

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Personality And Mood For Non-Player Characters: A Method For Behavior Simulation In A Maze Environment, Noah L. Paige Dec 2020

Personality And Mood For Non-Player Characters: A Method For Behavior Simulation In A Maze Environment, Noah L. Paige

Master's Theses

When it comes to video games, immersion is key. All types of games aim to keep the player immersed in some form or another. A common aspect of the immersive world in most role-playing games -- but not exclusive to the genre -- is the non-playable character (NPC). At their best, NPCs play an integral role to the sense of immersion the player feels by behaving in a way that feels believable and fits within the world of the game. However, due to lack of innovation in this area of video games, at their worst NPCs can jar the player …

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Understanding The Association Between Social Networks, College Student Alcohol Use, And Protective Behavioral Strategy Use And Beliefs, Melissa Roberts Colangelo Dec 2020

Understanding The Association Between Social Networks, College Student Alcohol Use, And Protective Behavioral Strategy Use And Beliefs, Melissa Roberts Colangelo

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems are a growing concern for American college students (Jun, Agley, Huang, & Gassman, 2015). Social networks, or peer groups, have demonstrated predictive associations with college students’ alcohol outcomes (Neighbors, Lee, Lewis, Fossos, & Larimer, 2007). Protective behavioral strategies (PBS), defined as behaviors used to reduce negative alcohol-related consequences, are often assessed as a mechanism of change and predictor of alcohol outcomes (Martens, Taylor, Damann, Page, Mowry, & Cimini, 2004). Still, the association between social networks’ and college students’ own PBS use has yet to be explored. The current study was designed to address this gap …

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Resurgence In Dogs, Monica Jones Nov 2020

Resurgence In Dogs, Monica Jones

All NMU Master's Theses

After a long tradition of using aversive training techniques, animal trainers have now widely adopted science-based methods using positive reinforcement. The field of applied behavior analysis routinely employs procedures to preempt problem behaviors by establishing and maintaining more acceptable alternative behaviors. Previous studies have shown that some of these procedures can nevertheless result in recurrence of original problematic behavior once training is completed and reinforcement of the alternative behavior is discontinued, a phenomenon called “resurgence.” Although observed in many species (e.g., rats, fish, and humans), resurgence has not been demonstrated with dogs, one of the most commonly trained animals in …

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Predictors Of Aberrant Driving Behaviours And Accident Involvement : Quantitative Objective And Subjective Evidence From Chinese And Pakistani Drivers, Rayna Sadia Sep 2020

Predictors Of Aberrant Driving Behaviours And Accident Involvement : Quantitative Objective And Subjective Evidence From Chinese And Pakistani Drivers, Rayna Sadia

Lingnan Theses and Dissertations (MPhil & PhD)

Traffic safety has emerged as a primary issue for governments, policymakers, and researchers globally since the surge of automobiles. Outcomes of minimal adherence to traffic safety (road traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities) are detrimental to the socio-economic growth of any country. Human factors, by far, provide efficient opportunities to improve traffic safety than environmental and engineering factors. Among human factors, driving behaviours have higher potential to harm traffic safety than driving performance. Western empirical findings using self-reported measures have established the predictive role of driving behaviours in crash involvement. Due to cultural differences in the traffic environment and lack of …

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Using Brief Session Duration During Functional Analysis To Inform The Treatment Of Problem Behavior In 13 Consecutive Cases, Theresa Fiani Sep 2020

Using Brief Session Duration During Functional Analysis To Inform The Treatment Of Problem Behavior In 13 Consecutive Cases, Theresa Fiani

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Functional analyses allow a clinician to identify causal relations between environmental stimuli and problem behavior. Recent developments in functional analysis methodology have been devoted to creating practical procedures that can be conducted in a brief period of time. However, the extent to which improvements in analytic efficiency affect treatment outcomes have yet to be fully explored. We conducted a consecutive case series with 13 individuals who exhibited problem behavior. The participants experienced a comprehensive assessment and treatment program beginning with a functional analysis using 3-min sessions and ending with functional communication training and delay/denial tolerance training. Results demonstrated near elimination …

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Misuse Of Social Behavior In Down Syndrome: Caregiver Conducted Functional Analysis, Sally M. Izquierdo Sep 2020

Misuse Of Social Behavior In Down Syndrome: Caregiver Conducted Functional Analysis, Sally M. Izquierdo

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Young children with Down syndrome often engage in charming non-contextual social behaviors. The developmental literature suggests that non-contextual social behaviors may function to escape from difficult activities to preferred social interactions. Caregivers may reinforce the behavior, perceiving it as evidence of the child’s social strength, when in fact, the pattern of behavior may also contribute to missed learning opportunities and a developmental gap between children with Down syndrome and their typically developing peers. We investigated the pattern by subjecting it for the first time to functional analyses. We identified non-contextual social behavior, confirmed function(s) of escape to attention, and compared …

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Inspecting The Role Of Positive Emotions, Adaptive Coping, And Psychological Resources To Explain The Strengthening Of Resilience After Stress Exposure, David Kansakar Aug 2020

Inspecting The Role Of Positive Emotions, Adaptive Coping, And Psychological Resources To Explain The Strengthening Of Resilience After Stress Exposure, David Kansakar

Lingnan Theses and Dissertations (MPhil & PhD)

A few studies have indicated the resilience promoting role of stressors but there is a lack of studies to delineate the underlying mechanisms. To address that gap of knowledge, this study utilizes a combination of broaden and build theory (Fredrickson, 1998, 2001b) and the stress and coping model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) to delineate the mechanisms underlying strengthening of resilience upon exposure to stressors. The main underpinnings of the theoretical model are two pathways that lead to resilience. Based on the broaden and build theory, the experience of positive emotions will lead to resilience via adaptive coping and psychological resources. …

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We All Feel Feelings, Ben Ohene Aug 2020

We All Feel Feelings, Ben Ohene

Theses and Dissertations

Consisting of three illustrated books, We All Feel Feelings is designed as a vehicle for the discussion of emotional and mental health with young boys. These books will help foster a mindset of openness and acceptance through different methods of displaying and understanding emotions.

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Using Video Modeling To Teach Staff How To Implement Preference Assessments, Megan Weaver Aug 2020

Using Video Modeling To Teach Staff How To Implement Preference Assessments, Megan Weaver

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Identification of reinforcers through preference assessments for individuals with disabilities is an important task because it increases the probability of skill development, including academic tasks, self-help skills, social skills, and behavior modification. Teachers of students with disabilities often experience problems with training paraprofessionals to implement preference assessments using written instructions alone. In this study, researchers will investigate whether video modeling will be more effective than written instruction to staff to implement preference assessments. Participants will include three to five paraprofessionals in a classroom setting with no previous behavior analysis training on preference assessments and three to five students in a …

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Cell Phone Use And Class Participation: An Interdependent Group Contingency, Heather R. Becker Aug 2020

Cell Phone Use And Class Participation: An Interdependent Group Contingency, Heather R. Becker

MSU Graduate Theses

Students face distractions in their learning environments. This is true for all students, including college students. One such distraction for college students can be their cell phones. The purpose of this study was to decrease cell phone usage of college students in class using an interdependent group contingency with a multiple baseline research design across three classes. The study also collected data on class participation to discover if decreases in distraction might lead to increased class participation. Results of this study provide evidence to support the use of an interdependent group contingency to decrease student cell phone usage in class. …

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Using Behavior Skills Training To Increase Quality Parent Talk During A Read-Aloud, Britnea Monaco Aug 2020

Using Behavior Skills Training To Increase Quality Parent Talk During A Read-Aloud, Britnea Monaco

MSU Graduate Theses

Reading to children is one way to engage a child in high-level conversations that go beyond the explicit message of the book. There is a positive correlation between the amount of high-quality caregiver/child joint attention activities and language development. The purpose of this study was to use Behavior Skills Training to teach parents seven component reading skills in order to increase parents word count and quality of words read during read-alouds with their children. Results showed as parents mastered the seven reading components they increased their overall word count. Implications of these findings are discussed within the context of caregiver/child …

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Using Two Reinforcement Contingencies To Alter Teachers' Rates Of Praise, Ashleigh Eaves Aug 2020

Using Two Reinforcement Contingencies To Alter Teachers' Rates Of Praise, Ashleigh Eaves

Dissertations

The current study evaluated the effects of a positive and negative reinforcement contingency on teachers’ use of behavior specific praise (BSP) in the educational setting. An alternating treatments design was used across four participants in a rural, Southern elementary to determine if one or both conditions was successful in increasing the use of BSP. Data were collected on teachers’ use of BSP, general praise, general reprimands, and behavior specific reprimands (BSR). Additionally, student engagement in academically-associated and/or disruptive behaviors was measured throughout baseline, treatment, and follow-up phases. Results indicate both the positive and negative reinforcement contingency were successful in improving …

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Evaluating The Effects Of Behavior Bingo On Students' Academically Engaged Behaviors, Kristi White Aug 2020

Evaluating The Effects Of Behavior Bingo On Students' Academically Engaged Behaviors, Kristi White

Dissertations

This study sought to extend the current literature regarding the use of an interdependent group contingency intervention (i.e., Behavior Bingo) for increasing students’ academically engaged behavior and decreasing students’ disruptive behaviors. Participants included three 6th grade Science teachers and their students. An ABAB design across classrooms was used to examine the effects of the Behavior Bingo intervention on students’ behaviors. Specifically, this study consisted of four phases: a) baseline, b) behavior Bingo intervention, c) withdrawal from intervention, and d) intervention reinstated. Results indicated increases in student’s academically engaged behaviors following implementation of the Behavior Bingo intervention with moderate to large …

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Performance Management Training Evaluation In An Autism Treatment Facility, James D. Morrison Aug 2020

Performance Management Training Evaluation In An Autism Treatment Facility, James D. Morrison

Dissertations

The demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) has increased dramatically since 2010 (Burning Glass Technologies, 2019). A core component of a BCBA’s role is to provide supervision to Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) and other paraprofessionals. Currently there is a lack of research on effective supervision training in the ABA literature. This study evaluated a supervision training program based on the Operant Model of Effective Supervision developed by Komaki (1986). The training developed for this study incorporated basic OBM concepts such as behavioral pinpointing, feedback, and goal setting as well as concepts such as work sampling, which the …

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Using Visual Prompts And A Raffle To Increase Recycling On Campus, Heather Marie Felske Aug 2020

Using Visual Prompts And A Raffle To Increase Recycling On Campus, Heather Marie Felske

MSU Graduate Theses

Landfills pose a risk to the current level of human development and population growth. Leachates have the potential of polluting the ground water which can cause severe birth defects and decrease the population. When municipal solid waste breaks down it produces methane gas creating debilitating health problems that are fatal. More attention will have to be directed towards sustainable growth by reducing the amount of recyclable materials being discarded as waste. Part of the public affairs mission of Missouri State University is to engage in pro-social behavior and incorporate the student body and community whenever possible. One way of modeling …

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The Effects Of Exaggerated Social Comparison Feedback On Work Performance, Michael Patrick Cusick Aug 2020

The Effects Of Exaggerated Social Comparison Feedback On Work Performance, Michael Patrick Cusick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exaggerated social comparison feedback on work performance in an analogue setting. Following their first 15-minute session working on a simulated money transfer task, participants in the two experimental conditions received objective feedback, but one group received rank feedback understating their performance, while the other group received overstated rank feedback. Participants then performed the task again to evaluate potential changes in performance based on this feedback. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were conducted to measure differences in the number of correctly completed money transfers, percent of correctly completed money transfers, …

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An Assessment Protocol For Tolerating Medical Procedures: Evaluating Operant And Physiological Behaviors, Ansley Catherine Hodges Aug 2020

An Assessment Protocol For Tolerating Medical Procedures: Evaluating Operant And Physiological Behaviors, Ansley Catherine Hodges

Theses and Dissertations

All individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, or diagnosis, must learn to tolerate and/or participate in routine medical procedures (e.g., wellness exams, dental cleaning, blood draws). For some individuals, tolerating medical procedures can be a particularly onerous task. Specifically, individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience more frequent difficulties with treatment adherence. With this population, a variety of techniques have been empirically demonstrated to increase cooperation with medical routines. However, no studies have reported changes in physiological behavior throughout training, and only a few studies have reported data on problem behavior. Several studies used graduated exposure or a hierarchy of the …

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Assessment And Function-Based Treatment Of Elopement In Children With Autism, Marissa Elizabeth Kamlowsky Aug 2020

Assessment And Function-Based Treatment Of Elopement In Children With Autism, Marissa Elizabeth Kamlowsky

Theses and Dissertations

Elopement is a dangerous behavior exhibited by some individuals with autism, and accurately identifying the function of elopement is important to develop successful treatments. Functional analyses for elopement have been developed to mimic contingencies appearing in the natural environment; however, some of these analyses are limited by the required retrieval component. The current study replicated previous research which used a latency-based functional analysis that eliminates the retrieval component in order to safely and more precisely identify the function of elopement. In addition, we extended previous latency-based research by evaluating a treatment to reduce elopement. Specifically, we evaluated latency-based functional analyses …

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Protecting Healthcare Workers From Violence, Terry L. Taylor Aug 2020

Protecting Healthcare Workers From Violence, Terry L. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growing violence in the community increases the risks of injuries to healthcare workers. This project assessed the levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and acknowledgment of professional accomplishments in healthcare workers in the community who were responsible for the care of confused and combative clients. The community healthcare workers were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey-Medical Personnel. An intervention was then presented, which focused on self-awareness, including mood assessments, soothing rhythmic breathing, compassionate focused imagery, and the creation of a safe place to process criticism compassionately. The participants were resurveyed after 30 days by repeating the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human …

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Alcohol Use And Drinking-Related Eating Restriction Behaviors Among College Students, Peter Preonas Aug 2020

Alcohol Use And Drinking-Related Eating Restriction Behaviors Among College Students, Peter Preonas

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The combination of eating restrictions and alcohol use is a prevalent problem on college campuses. Some students engage in eating restrictions prior to drinking to limit their overall caloric intake or to enhance intoxication effects. To date, limited research suggests that drinking-related eating restriction behaviors are associated with additional and unique health risks relative to high-risk drinking or eating restrictions alone. As such, additional research examining this unique, risky set of behaviors is warranted. Consequently, the present study aimed to address gaps in the literature by further examining the risks associated with drinking-related eating restrictions and testing trait factors related …

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