Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol 40(5), Aug 2026, 513-525; doi:10.1037/adb0001153
Objective: The Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS) is a commonly used measure to assess food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; i.e., use of compensatory behaviors before, during, or after a drinking episode to offset alcohol-related calories and/or enhance alcohol effects). However, its cross-national utility remains largely unexamined. This study evaluated the psychometric properties, frequency, and concurrent utility of the CEBRACS in a cross-national sample. Method: Participants were 2,886 college students (United States [n = 1,155], Argentina [n = 537], Spain [n = 597], South Africa [n = 287], England [n = 170], Canada [n = 137]) reporting past-month FAD (Mage = 20.81; 70.4% female) who completed an online survey assessing FAD and alcohol-related behaviors. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses of the CEBRACS’s original and alternative structures indicated persistent model estimation warnings, though some models showed seemingly acceptable fit in select countries. Despite these limitations, item-level analyses demonstrated consistent endorsement of FAD behaviors, with items relating to engaging in exercise behaviors to compensate for alcohol-related calories, as well as disordered eating behaviors to enhance the effects of alcohol, being the most frequently endorsed. Endorsement rates were generally highest among participants from England and lowest in Argentina and Spain. Across all six countries, CEBRACS items were positively associated with alcohol-related outcomes (i.e., frequency, quantity, and/or consequences). Conclusions: Our findings highlight several psychometric limitations of the CEBRACS in a cross-national sample but suggest that examining individual items may still provide valuable insights into FAD-related behaviors. The results underscore the need for continued cross-national research on FAD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)