Returning to emotional eating: the emotional eating scale psychometric properties and associations with body image flexibility and binge eating.

Abstract

This study tests the Emotional Eating Scale (EES) psychometric properties and correlates, and the moderator effect of body image flexibility on the association between emotional eating and binge eating. The EES factorial structure was examined in female college students and women from the general population, through a principal component analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. EES psychometric properties and moderation analyses were further conducted. The EES presented a three-factor structure-Depression, Anxiety and Anger-a good model fit, internal consistency, construct validity and temporal stability. EES was positively associated with general and eating psychopathology, binge eating, and negatively associated with mindfulness and body image flexibility. Body image flexibility moderated the association between emotional eating and binge eating. Findings showed that EES is a valid measure of emotional eating, and clarified the association between emotional eating and binge eating moderated by body image flexibility.