The role of impulsivity and positive urgency in predicting binge eating symptoms among university students using a risk-behaviour approach

Impulsivity-related traits, particularly positive urgency, the tendency to act rashly under extreme positive emotions, have been linked to various risky behaviours, including binge eating symptoms. This study examined how impulsivity and positive urgency predict binge eating symptoms in students, considering differences between low and high risk behavior groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 326 Croatian university students (age M = 22.2, SD = 2.2; 83.4% female), covering undergraduate and graduate levels (year of study M = 3.2, SD = 1.4). Students completed Positive Urgency Measure, The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Binge Eating Scale and evaluated engagement in high-risk activities. Data were collected via online questionnaires, and gender was controlled for in all analyses. Path analysis revealed that impulsivity significantly predicted positive urgency, and both impulsivity and positive urgency directly predicted binge eating symptoms. Additionally, impulsivity had an indirect effect on binge eating symptoms through positive urgency. When analyzed by behavioural risk level, the associations somewhat differed between students in the low and high-risk behaviour group. These findings show the role of emotiondriven impulsivity in disordered eating symptoms and suggest that interventions aiming to reduce binge eating symptoms in student populations may benefit from addressing general impulsivity and positive urgency, especially in those who engage in other risk behaviours.