Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

4779

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Committee Chair

James Murphy

Committee Member

James Whelan

Committee Member

Joanna Buscemi

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are particularly saient concerns for adolescents and young adults, the age group with the greatest risk of weight gain each year. The present study examined differences in behavioral economic measures of food reinforcement and delay discounting among normal weight women compared to overweight and obese adult women. Effects of symptoms of depression and ethnicity were also examined. Young adult women were given a variety of questionnaires. The current study hypothesized that overweight and obese women would rate food images as being more pleasant, discount money more steeply, have higher food-related reinforcement, and higher demand for food. Overweight and obese women discounted money more steeply. Overweight and obese women with symptoms of depression were more likely to choose food over money and were more reinforced by food-related activities. Future interventions should target changing delay-discoutning behavior and food-free reinforcement, particularly in depressed individuals.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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