Kelly, NicholeWilliamson, Gina2024-01-092024-01-092024-01-09https://hdl.handle.net/1794/29099Loss of control eating (LOC) is a disordered eating behavior that is prevalent but understudied among young men. Affect regulation models propose that LOC eating functions as a maladaptive effort to escape from distressing affective states. As such, negative affect is thought to increase in the hours and minutes before LOC eating, and decrease afterwards. However, examinations specific to young men are lacking and it remains unclear which discrete types of affect are most implicated in young men’s LOC eating. The current study examined the temporal roles of affect in LOC eating in a sample of 42 young men (18-35 years; Mage = 25.31±5.38y; 46.3% White; 22% Black/African American; 9.8% Black but not African American) who engage in frequent LOC eating. Participants completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment protocol and recorded all eating episodes and their state affect five times per day. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were conducted to examine the trajectories of global negative affect, global positive affect, and each discrete type of affect pre- and post-LOC eating episodes. Results did not support study hypotheses; rather, negative affect did not change significantly before or after LOC eating (ps<.05). Positive affect did not change significantly before LOC eating (ps<.05). Global positive affect, excitement, and happiness decreased significantly after LOC eating (ps≤.001, R2s=-.03). Study findings contradict extant theory and empirical data largely from female samples. Negative affect did not increase risk for LOC eating, nor did LOC eating function to improve participant’s moods; rather, positive mood slightly decreased after LOC eating. Results from this pilot study can inform future research on LOC eating in young men who engage in subthreshold disordered eating behaviors. Further investigation around the observed decline in positive affect after LOC eating will clarify if this is a relevant intervention point in this population.en-USAll Rights Reserved.AffectDisordered eatingLoss of control eatingMenElectronic Thesis or Dissertation