Emotionality Research Articles

Reconsidering the role of depression and common psychiatric disorders as partners in the type 2 diabetes epidemic

Common psychiatric disorders (CPDs) and depression contribute significantly to the global epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We postulated a possible pathophysiological mechanism that through Bridge-Symptoms present in depression and CPDs, promotes the establishment of emotional eating, activation of the reward system, onset of overweight and obesity and, ultimately the increased risk of developing T2D. The plausibility of the proposed pathophysiological mechanism is supported by the mechanism of action of drugs such as naltrexone-bupropion currently approved for the treatment of both obesity/overweight with T2D and as separate active pharmaceutical ingredients in drug addiction, but also from initial evidence that is emerging regarding glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists that appear to be effective in the treatment of drug addiction. We hope that our hypothesis may be useful in interpreting the higher prevalence of CPDs and depression in patients with T2D compared with the general population and may help refine the integrated psychiatric-diabetic therapy approach to improve the treatment and or remission of T2D.

Associations between disordered eating behaviour and sexual behaviour amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary education institution in Coastal Kenya.

Sexual behavior (SB) is a well-documented pathway to HIV acquisition in emerging adults and remains common amongst African emerging adults. Previous research in high-income countries indicates a correlation between disordered eating behavior (DEB) and engaging in sexual behaviors. We aimed to describe the relationship between DEB and SB amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary educational institution at the Kenyan Coast. We applied a cross-sectional design nested in a young adults' cohort study. Eligibility included sexually active emerging adults aged 18-24 years. Three DEBs (emotional, restrained and external eating) were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and analysed using exploratory factor analysis. Seven SB indicators were assessed: non-condom use, casual sex, multiple sex partners, transactional sex, group sex, age-disparate relationship and anal sex, and grouped into low vs. high SB using latent class analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between DEB and SB. Of 273 eligible participants (female, n = 110 [40.3%]), the mean of emotional, restrained and external eating was 1.9 [0.6], 2.0 [0.6] and 3.0 [0.5] respectively. Overall, 57 (20.9%) were grouped into the latent high SB class. Emotional (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.0 [0.9-1.0], p = 0.398), restrained (AOR, 1.0 [CI: 0.9-1.1], p = 0.301) and External (AOR, 1.0 [CI: 0.8-1.2], p = 0.523) eating were not independently associated with latent high SB. There was no significant association between DEB and SB in this study sample. In low- and middle-income countries like Kenya, interventions targeted at DEB among emerging adults towards controlling SB are unnecessary.

Understanding the relationship between quality of life, anthropometric measures and mental health in individuals with obesity.

Obesity is a chronic medical condition caused by an excessive accumulation of body fat that represents a major risk factor for public health. The relationship between obesity, quality of life (QoL) and mental health has been examined in some previous literature. However, the studies found have not linked anthropometric variables with QoL factors, as they have used generic questionnaires. The present study aimed to analyse the influence of anthropometric variables on the QoL of people with obesity and examine its relationship with psychological variables. It was a cross-sectional study composed of 77 Spanish participants adults (M=45.12years; SD=10.29) collected from two different research projects. The measurements were carried out in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Alicante (Spain), including sociodemographic variables, anthropometric data and psychological questionnaires. The finding demonstrated the relationship between anthropometric variables and all QoL factors. Also, individuals with lower QoL exhibit more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and are more prone to emotional eating. The findings highlight the necessity of integrating psychological support into obesity treatment strategies, as well as the importance of using QoL questionnaires specific to people with obesity.

Effect of Acute Nutritional Ketosis on Circulating Levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15: Findings from a Cross-Over Randomised Controlled Trial.

Exogenous supplementation with ketone beverages has been shown to reduce plasma glucose levels during acute nutritional ketosis. It remains to be investigated whether growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15)-an anorexigenic hormone-is involved in this process. The aim was to investigate the effect of a ketone ester beverage delivering β-hydroxybutyrate (KEβHB) on plasma levels of GDF-15, as well as assess the influence of eating behaviour on it. The study was a randomised controlled trial (registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03889210). Individuals were given a KEβHB beverage or placebo in a cross-over fashion. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min after ingestion. Eating behaviour was assessed using the three-factor eating questionnaire. GDF-15 levels were not significantly different (p = 0.503) after the KEβHB beverage compared with the placebo. This finding remained consistent across the cognitive restraint, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating domains. Changes in the anorexigenic hormone GDF-15, irrespective of eating behaviour, do not appear to play a major role in the glucose-lowering effect of exogenous ketones.

COVID-19-Related Increases in Depressive and Anxious Symptoms Are Associated with Maladaptive Eating Among Patients up to 4years Post-bariatric Surgery.

Depressive and anxious symptoms and maladaptive eating behaviors fluctuate with stressful events for patients seeking bariatric surgery. These associations are less clear for patients postoperatively. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a frame, we examined associations between changes in depressive and anxious symptoms and maladaptive eating behaviors between up to fouryears postoperatively. Participants (N = 703) who underwent surgery between 2018 and 2021 completed web-based questionnaires between 2021 and 2022. Demographic and surgical data were obtained from electronic health records. Participants reported whether depressive and anxious symptoms increased or were stable/decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and completed eating behavior measures. Many participants reported increased depressive (27.5%) and anxious (33.7%) symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to those who reported stable or decreased symptoms, these participants were as follows: (1) more likely to endorse presence of binge, loss-of-control, graze, and night eating; (2) reported higher emotional eating in response to anger and frustration, depression, and anxiety; and (3) reported higher driven and compulsive eating behaviors. Frequency of binge, loss-of-control, graze, and night eating episodes did not differ between groups (e.g., increased vs. stable/decreased anxious symptoms) among participants who endorsed any episodes. A large portion of the sample reported increased depressive and anxious symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these increases were associated with maladaptive eating behaviors. Depressive and anxious symptoms and eating behaviors should be assessed postoperatively as significant stressors may be associated with increased distress and maladaptive eating behaviors that can affect postoperative outcomes. Postoperative interventions may be useful at simultaneously targeting these concerns.

The Degree of Emotional Eating Among Female University Students and Its Impact on Their Pattern of Eating Behaviors

Background: The transition from high school often coincides with impact on emotional eating (EE), potentially leading to disruptions in eating patterns. Even though, the impact of EE on patterns of eating behavior among Saudi female university students is not fully investigated. Aim: To assess the impact of EE on patterns of eating behavior among Saudi female University students. Methods: A total of 359 female students (King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) participated in a cross-sectional study. Data was collected using online questionnaire including general characteristics, Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) and Eating Behavior Pattern Questionnaire (EBPQ). Results: 41.2% of participants were categorized as somewhat emotional eaters with a mean EEQ score of 13.80±6.84. EE was positively associated with eating out, frequent snacking, consumption of sweets and biscuits, and meal skipping (p<0.05). Additionally, EBPQ score was positively correlated with weight/BMI (r=0.28, r=0.29) while negatively correlated with adherence to low-fat diet (r=-0.30, r=-0.26). Significant association between EEQ scores and BMI (p<0.001), with increased emotional eating score among overweight/obese individuals. Conclusion: Female university participants exhibited somewhat emotional eating tendencies, highlighting the complexity of the interaction between different parameters. These findings underscore the importance of addressing EE behaviors and its subsequent impact on dietary patterns; and promoting healthier dietary habits among Saudi female university students.

Factors associated with emotional eating in female college students

PurposeEmotions affect food intake and food choice. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors, eating habits and anthropometric measurements and negative and positive emotional eating.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 343 female college students 18–24 years of age. Data were collected using the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ). Anthropometric measurements were obtained (height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, neck, mid-upper arm, waist and hip circumference). Sociodemographic factors and lifestyle and eating habits were questioned. Generalized linear models were used to identify each EMAQ score.FindingsWhile high body mass index (BMI) was associated with high negative emotional eating scores, low BMI was related to high positive emotional/situation eating scores (p < 0.01). There was no relationship between waist circumferences (p = 0.09), triceps skinfold thickness (p = 0.09) and negative emotional eating. Participants consuming vegetables and fruit = 5 portions/day had higher negative emotional eating scores, regardless of BMI (p = 0.04). Smokers (p < 0.01) and participants doing regular physical activity (p = 0.02) had lower positive emotional eating scores.Research limitations/implicationsNegative emotional eating was related to higher BMI but not adiposity. Active female participants were less likely to eat in response to positive emotions.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies examining positive emotion scores from many aspects. The authors also investigated the association between emotional eating and anthropometric measurements by using different methods, including neck and mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness.

Eating behaviors as pathways from early childhood adversity to adolescent cardiometabolic risk.

To identify specific eating behavior pathways that mediate associations between financial difficulties, negative life events, and maternal depressive symptoms from 0 to 5 years and cardiometabolic risk in adolescence. Hypotheses were tested with data from birth to age 15 years using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a birth cohort in the United Kingdom (n = 3,887 for current analyses). Mothers reported on financial difficulties, negative life events, and maternal depressive symptoms at multiple points from 0 to 5 years and reported on worry about child overeating at 8 years. Youth self-reported restrained, emotional, and external eating at age 14. Youth completed a cardiometabolic health assessment at age 15 where waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and insulin resistance were measured. Longitudinal structural equation modeling with bootstrapping was used to test mediation models. Greater negative life events and maternal depressive symptoms predicted greater parental worry about child overeating at age 8, which directly predicted greater restrained and emotional eating at 14 and cardiometabolic risk at 15. Restrained and emotional eating at 14 directly predicted greater cardiometabolic risk at age 15. Negative life events and maternal depressive symptoms in infancy/early childhood are associated with cardiometabolic risk in adolescence through pathways of parental worry about child overeating in middle childhood and youth-reported restrained and emotional eating in adolescence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Emotional Determinants of Snack Consumption by Polish Consumers

Abstract Emotions are the effect but also the cause of eating behaviors, including the purchase and consumption of snacks. As snacks become an increasingly prevalent segment of the food industry, their consumption has been linked to rising rates of overweight, obesity, and diet-related diseases. Understanding how emotional valence influences consumer attitudes and behaviors toward snacks is therefore crucial. This study explores the relationship between emotional eating and the propensity to consume unhealthy snacks, both sweet and salty. A survey of 707 representative participants revealed distinct emotional patterns in snack consumption, with choices significantly influenced by consumers' emotional states and personal preferences. Furthermore, individuals who frequently opted for unhealthy snacks typically exhibited poorer health and financial profiles.

Comparative study of eating behavior between patients with mental illness and healthy controls using the Japanese version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

To examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ-J) for patients with mental illness, and to determine the characteristics of eating behavior among these patients when compared with healthy controls. In May 2018, 120 outpatients with mental illness and 132 healthy controls were surveyed. First, exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the DEBQ-J statement responses for both patients and healthy controls. Next, reliability coefficients were calculated for the eating behavior scale scores (emotional, restrained, and external eating) extracted from the factor analysis. The association between BMI and eating behavior was examined using Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The DEBQ-J had a similar factor structure to that of the original DEBQ for healthy controls, with a cumulative contribution of 52.4% for the three factors, and alpha coefficients ranging from 0.87 to 0.91. For patients, factor analysis showed that four statements classified as emotional eating items in the original DEBQ were recategorized as external eating items, and the percentage of patients with obesity (BMI≥25) was 57.5%, compared with only 25.4% among the healthy controls. The patients with obesity tended to score higher on the external eating scale than did those with BMI<25. Patients tended to blur the distinction between emotional feelings of mental irritability or anxiety and feelings in response to external stimuli. Monitoring of the DEBQ-J external eating score and appropriate intervention among patients living with mental illness may help to prevent obesity.

Relationships among alexithymia, psychological distress, and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the relations between psychological distress, alexithymia, disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), and body mass index (BMI) and to assess if psychological stress would mediate the influence of alexithymia on DEBs in adolescents. A total of 1609 high school students (58.9% females) aged 14–18 years were included in the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. DEBs including emotional eating, cognitive restraint, and uncontrolled eating were assessed with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, psychological distress was assessed with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Psychological distress was found to be positively associated with alexithymia, emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint (p < 0.01). Both direct and indirect effects of alexithymia on emotional eating and uncontrolled eating were significant. Psychological distress partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and uncontrolled eating (β = 0.05) and emotional eating (β = 0.04), while it fully mediated the relationship between alexithymia and cognitive restraint (β = 0.05). BMI z score was not correlated with alexithymia and psychological distress. Emotional eating (β = 0.16) and cognitive restraint (β = 0.34), but not uncontrolled eating, significantly were associated with BMI z score. This study demonstrated that alexithymia and psychological distress are positively associated with DEBs in adolescents. It also showed that psychological distress plays a mediating role between alexithymia and DEBs. Moreover, it showed that emotional eating and cognitive restraint are positively associated with the BMI z score. These results suggest that interventions aimed at improving adolescents’ psychological well-being and their ability to identify and describe their emotions may reduce DEBs in adolescents, thereby preventing obesity in adolescents.

Investigation of Emotional Eating, Uncontrolled Eating and Mindful Eating Behaviors in Female Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to investigate young female nursing students’ emotional eating, uncontrolled eating and mindful eating behaviors, perceived stress levels and the relationship between these variables. Material and Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 106 3rd and 4th grade female nursing students aged 20-28 years studying in a nursing faculty in the 2020-2021 academic year. Data were collected using Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results: While the mean score the participants who did not eat regularly obtained from the uncontrolled eating subscale was significantly higher, the mean scores the participants who were on a diet obtained from the MEQ, and cognitive restriction, emotional eating subscales and their mean BMI values were significantly higher (p

Self-Criticism: Conceptualization, Assessment and Interventions

Self-criticism, considered as a transdiagnostic concept in the emergence of various psychopathologies, is considered as negative evaluations directed towards oneself especially in perceived failure situations. In literature various views regarding self-criticism, suggesting it as a personality trait, a style of relating to oneself, a coping response to various situations, or a safety strategy developed to restrain negative experiences, exist. In this regard, various researchers have conceptualized self-criticism with different dimensions and structures, leading to the development of various measurement tools. Findings obtained from these scales indicate that self-criticism is a risk factor for psychopathology and a factor that affects individuals to experience difficult emotions and their engagement in various challenging behaviors such as perfectionism and emotional eating. For this reason, several interventions aimed at reducing individuals' levels of self-criticism have been conducted in the literature. In this study the scales developed based on different conceptualizations of self-criticism were introduced, the effects of self-criticism on individuals were presented by compiling results of studies in which the relationships between self-criticism and various variables were examined and finally the results of intervention studies based on Cognitive Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Compassion-Focused Therapy were summarized. It is believed that providing comprehensive theoretical and empirical knowledge related to self-criticism will contribute to future studies in the field.

Depression, Anxiety, Emotional Eating, and Body Mass Index among Self-Reported Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians: A Cross-Sectional Study in Peruvian Adults.

Background: Vegetarianism is commonly associated with various health benefits. However, the association between this dietary regimen and aspects of mental health remains ambiguous. This study compared the symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional eating (EmE), and body mass index (BMI) in Peruvian vegetarian and non-vegetarian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 768 Peruvian adults, of whom 284 (37%) were vegetarians and 484 (63%) were non-vegetarians. The Depression Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 (GAD-2), and an EmE questionnaire were applied; additionally, the BMI was calculated. Simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to evaluate the association between depression, anxiety, EmE, and BMI with dietary patterns. Results: The vegetarians (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.31; p < 0.001) reported more depressive symptoms than the non-vegetarians. This trend persisted for anxiety, with an adjusted PR of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.01-0.29; p = 0.012). However, the vegetarians (adjusted PR = -0.38, 95% CI: -0.61--0.14; p < 0.001) reported lower EmE scores compared to the non-vegetarians. Likewise, the vegetarians had a lower mean BMI than the non-vegetarians (B = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.21--0.08; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Vegetarian diets are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as lower EmE and BMI scores. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate these associations and determine causality and the underlying mechanisms involved.

“I find it hard to change poor food habits”: Measuring food choice motives in an emerging economy

Food choices are driven by an array of motives that have been approached, determined and quantified in a number of ways, mainly in developed countries. The objective of this study was to better understand the motives behind food choices in an emerging economy by collecting information from urban people in South Africa in a series of four studies. (1) Items generated through focus group discussions with low, middle and high income participants by Magano et al. (2023) were checked for content and face validity and (2) 123 statements derived from them were evaluated by 621 respondents. After exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 46 statements best representing the motivational space were (3) presented to another group of respondents (n = 259). Here, the EFA resulted in a 31-item, 7-factor food choice questionnaire for emerging economies (FCQ-EE) which was (4) confirmed by a nationwide sample (n = 814) and further refined to an alternative 19-item, 7-factor solution. The emerging factors were: Healthy eating constraints (HEC), Frugality (FR), Emotional eating (EE), Meat appeal (MA), Weather (WE), Quality seeking (QS) and Cooking constraints (CC). Whether used in the 31-item or 19-item format, this set of statements highlights factors underlying food choice in an emerging economy and offers a way to study their importance in similar contexts. Further research is needed to show the extent to which these factors can predict actual food choices.

Behavioral and Psychosocial Mediators of the Effects of Increased Self-Regulation on Short- and Long-Term Weight Loss in Women Within Community-Based Obesity Treatments.

The aim of this study was to evaluate behavioral mediators of relationships between increased self-regulation of eating and weight loss so that findings on psychosocial correlates of treatment-associated weight change could be extended. Participants were women enrolled in 6-month community-based obesity treatments using primarily self-regulatory (SR-treatment, n = 52) or education-focused (Didactic training, n = 54) methods. Changes from baseline in self-regulation of eating, self-efficacy for controlled eating, emotional eating propensity, exercise, and the diet were first calculated. There were significant overall improvements in each psychosocial and behavioral measure, and weight. Except for emotional eating change from baseline-Month 12, improvements were each significantly greater in the SR-treatment group. Mediation of the relationships of change in self-regulation with 6-, 12-, and 24-month weight changes, by changes in self-efficacy and emotional eating, were significant, R2s = .19-.26, ps < .001. Only changes in emotional eating over 6 and 12months were significant mediators. Mediations of the same self-regulation-weight change relationships by changes in exercise and the diet were also significant, R2s = .19-.28, ps < .001, and only changes in exercise over 12 and 24months were significant mediators. Although group membership did not moderate effects on weight, substitution of sweets for the (composite) diet demonstrated it to be a significant mediator over 6 and 12months. In women with obesity, self-regulation improvement was associated with short- and longer-term weight loss through changes in emotional eating, exercise, and sweets consumption. Thus, behavioral treatments will benefit from targeting those variables.

Hubungan Asupan Zat Gizi dan Emotional Eating dengan Kejadian Obesitas

Background: Obesity is an imbalance between energy incoming and expended by the body is characterized by the accumulation of fat in adipose tissue. Obesity as an adult is at risk of suffering from degenerative diseases. The prevalence of obesity among Civil Servants (PNS) in DKI Jakarta Province is 24.70% (Ministry of Health, 2018).Objectives: To determine the relationship between nutrient intake and emotional eating with the incidence of obesity in employees at the South Jakarta Community Health Center Area.Methods: This type of quantitative research with a cross-sectional design. The population in this study was 160 employees, with a sample size of 105 respondents. The sampling technique uses stratified sampling. Analysis used chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.Results: Show’s that there is a relationship between energy intake, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and emotional eating with the incidence of obesity, and there is no relationship between fiber and the incidence of obesityConclusion: It was concluded that the incidence of obesity was influenced by energy intake (p = 0.003, PR = 2.182), protein (p = 0.000, PR = 2.197), fat (p = 0.00, PR = 0.000), KH (p = 0.006, PR = 2.156), emotional eating (p = 0.002, PR = 1,810), although not fiber intake (p = 1.000).

Emotional Eating and Uncontrolled Eating as Risk Predictors for Disordered Eating Attitudes in Candidates for Bariatric Surgery Treated at a Public Hospital in the Amazon.

This study analyzes the eating behavior and factors associated with the presence of disordered eating attitudes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted at a hospital in the Amazon region of Brazil. The Disordered Eating Attitude Scale reduced version (DEAS-s) was used to assess the risk of eating disorders and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) was used to characterize eating behavior. A total of 205 patients participated, with a mean age of 37.5 ± 8.6 years. The majority of participants were female (93.7%; p < 0.001), and the mean BMI was 45.3 ± 6.7 kg/m2. It was found that cognitive restraint had the highest mean (52.6 ± 19.9; p < 0.001). As for the DEAS-s, the question with the highest mean response was "spending one or more days without eating or consuming only liquids to lose weight" (2.80 ± 1.99). Female participants had a higher score for emotional eating (p = 0.016). Disordered eating attitudes showed a correlation with emotional eating and uncontrolled eating. These results suggest that candidates for bariatric surgery may have susceptibility to eating disorders. The importance of a multidisciplinary team conducting monitoring during the preoperative period is highlighted.

Validation of the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire in pregnancy

The Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire (WREQ), designed for assessing distinct constructs of dietary restraint and disinhibition-related eating behaviors, has not been validated in pregnancy. This secondary data analysis aimed to evaluate the WREQ's psychometrics in a diverse sample of pregnant women from the eMoms randomized controlled trial (N = 1399), randomly split for exploratory (EFA, n = 691) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, n = 708). Cronbach's alpha and corrected item-total correlation was used to examine internal consistency reliability. Sequential multiple regression analyses were used to assess criterion validity. EFA revealed three factors – dietary restraint, susceptibility to external cues, and emotional eating – accounting for 65.6 % of total variances. Parallel analysis confirmed a combination of two restraint subtypes (routine restraint and compensatory restraint). CFA showed that item 3 for assessing routine restraint had the lowest squared multiple correlation (0.22). The overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 demonstrated good internal consistency. Dietary restraint was negatively associated with the intake of energy (p = .03) and carbohydrates (p = .02), whereas susceptibility to external cues was positively associated with the intake of energy (p < .001), carbohydrates (p < .001), and total fat (p = .003). Additionally, emotional eating was positively associated with early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) after adjustment for covariates (p < .001). These findings confirmed the reliability of the WREQ, the construct validity for susceptibility to external cues and emotional eating, and demonstrated its criterion validity regarding nutritional intake in pregnant women.

The Effect of Attachment Dimensions, Perceived Stress and Specific Perfectionism Dimensions on Emotional Overeating and Emotional Undereating

Emotional Eating (EE) encompasses the excessive consumption or deprivation of food as a response to negative emotions, known as emotional overeating (EO) and undereating (EU) respectively. Attachment appears to be associated with EE. Studies suggest that stress and perceived stress levels are linked to Emotional Dysregulation (ED) and EE. Research indicates that the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and perfectionism with symptoms of eating disorders (ED) is mediated by emotional eating and cognitive restraint regarding eating. The present study aims to explore whether different levels of attachment dimensions (anxiety, avoidance), perceived stress, and perfectionism (DA &amp; CM) yield distinct categories of EE. The design of the present study is independent measures. Snowballing technique was employed for the facilitation of the study. 227 participants were included (Mage= 29.45, SD= 9.79). The study necessitates the utilization of four self-report instruments, specifically the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) with a particular focus on its DA and CM subscales, and the Salzburg Emotional Eating Scale (SEES). Factorial Independent Measures ANOVA was facilitated. The only statistically significant result yielded consist of the interaction effect between attachment avoidance levels and perceived stress levels on emotional eating scores. The results regarding the insignificant effect of attachment anxiety levels (high, low), attachment avoidance levels, perceived stress levels and perfectionism levels on EE appear to be contradictory considering previous research. Keywords: Attachment Dimensions, Emotional Eating behaviours, Perfectionism, Perceived Stress