Abstract
The literature points to the importance of distinguishing between positive and negative emotional eating in relation to overeating and binge eating. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Spanish version of the Positive-Negative Emotional Eating Scale (PNEES) in a Spanish community sample. The sample consisted of 628 participants. The mean age was 27.5 (SD = 12.7) and 70.1% of them were women. The participants completed the PNEES, and measures of anxiety and depression (HADS), and eating disorder-related scales (TFEQ-R18, BULIT-R, and EAT-26) that were selected to examine convergent validity. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, replicating the original two-factor solution, consisting of Negative Emotional Eating (PNEES-N) and Positive Emotional Eating (PNEES-P). The results showed an acceptable fit of the model (CFI = 0.986; TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.055). Internal consistency ranged from ω = 0.92 to ω = 0.96 for both subscales and the total score. PNEES-P correlations with other variables were lower with respect to the PNEES-N, showing that they are different constructs. A mediation analysis was conducted, in which PNEES-P significantly predicted binge eating and PNEES-N was a partially mediator variable. The results showed that the adaptation process was successful.
Highlights
The concept of emotional eating stems from psychosomatic theory (Bruch, 1964) which proposes that emotional eaters are unable to distinguish hunger from the physiological state accompanying negative emotions
The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed with the DWLS estimation
12 items were allocated in the Negative Emotional Eating factor and seven items were allocated in the Positive Emotional Eating factor
Summary
The concept of emotional eating stems from psychosomatic theory (Bruch, 1964) which proposes that emotional eaters are unable to distinguish hunger from the physiological state accompanying negative emotions In this way, as Adriaanse et al (2011) explain, emotional eating occurs in response to experiencing negative emotions, whereas ordinarily these emotions would result in loss of appetite since emotions induce physiological changes similar to those of satiety. Similar results were obtained in a meta-analysis of laboratory studies aimed at assessing the effect of induced negative and positive mood on meal consumption in healthy participants and patients with eating and weight disorders (Cardi et al, 2015). Positive mood was associated with greater caloric intake across groups
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