Relationship Between Impulsivity and Binge Eating in Japanese Adult Women: Using a Japanese Version of S-UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between impulsivity and binge eating in Japanese adult women. In Study 1, we created a Japanese version of a psychological scale named the Short-Urgency-Premeditation-Perseverance-Sensation Seeking-Positive Urgency (S-UPPS-P) Impulsive Behavior Scale to assess impulsivity in a Japanese sample, and confirmed good reliability and validity. Then, the relationship between impulsivity and binge eating was examined by mediating analyses, regression analyses, and structural equation modeling in Study 2. Results indicated that both negative urgency and positive urgency directly led to binge eating. Moreover, sensation-seeking led to binge eating via unstructured dieting. Hence, our findings suggest that impulsivity has two routes to binge eating. One is the direct route to binge eating and the other is the indirect route via dieting behavior.