Emotional Eating and Affecting Factors in University Students in Health Education

Abstract

Objective: This cross-sectional study intends to determine emotional eating and affecting factors in university students in health education. Material and Methods: Study data was collected between October 2017-December 2017. The study sample consisted of 749 students in the nursing and midwifery department of a university. Data was collected using a questionnaire form on emotional eating and Emotional Eating Scale (EES). Data was analysed with SPSS 22.0 statistical package program and evaluated with descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) as well as Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney U test and Pearson Correlation analysis. Findings: The mean age of the students was 20.63±1.73, and 80.9 % of the students were female. Being a woman (WU=26171.500; p=0.000), having a mother with a high school or higher education (KW=9.804; p=0.020) and not sharing a room (MWU=53154.000; p=0.018) have an effect on the mean scores of students in the Emotional Eating Scale. Negative emotions seemed to increase emotional eating in students (MWU=41377.000; p=0.000). Students prefer sweet food (candies, chocolate etc.) (MWU=41028.500; p=0.000), unhealthy snacks (crisps etc.) (MWU=51064.000; p=0.000) and fast food (hamburger, pizza) (MWU=42297.500; p=0.000) for emotional eating. Problem in controlling the amount of food they eat (MWU=30055.000; p=0.000),eating without being hungry (MWU=33197.500; p=0.000), eating late to sleep late (MWU=37189.500; p=0.000), continuing eating even after feeling full (MWU=43409.500; p=0.000), spontaneous and impulsive eating (MWU=42097.500; p=0.000), letting emotions control them while eating (MWU=33343.500; p=0.000), weight loss and gain affecting state of mind (MWU=33097.500; p=0.000), consulting a healthcare professional for emotional eating (MWU=17569.500; p=0.000) and eating in secret (MWU=30653.500; p=0.000) have an effect on emotional eating. Conclusion: Factors affecting emotional eating in students are mostly being a woman and having negative emotions. Based on these results, it can be recommended that students should receive education and training on problem solving skills and stress coping techniques.

Keywords

• Health Education
• student
• emotional eating
• affecting factor

Sağlık Eğitimi Alan Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Duygusal Yeme ve Etkileyen Faktörler

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma sağlık eğitimi alan üniversite öğrencilerinde duygusal yeme ve etkileyen faktörleri belirlemek amacı ile kesitsel olarak yapılmıştır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmanın verileri Ekim 2017-Aralık 2017 tarihleri arasında toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini bir üniversitenin sağlık eğitimi veren hemşirelik ve ebelik bölümü
öğrencisi toplam 749 kişi oluşturmuştur. Veriler duygusal yemeyi etkileyeceği düşünülen anket formu ve Duygusal Yeme Ölçeği (DYÖ) ile toplanmıştır.

Bulgular: Öğrencilerin yaş ortalamalarının 20,63±1,73, %80,9’unun kadın olduğu belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin Duygusal Yeme Ölçeği puan ortalamalarını; kadın cinsiyetinde
olma (MWU=26171,500, p=0,000), anne eğitim düzeyinin lise ve üzerinde olması (KW=9,804, p=0,020) ve odada tek başına kalmanın (MWU=53154,000, p=0,018) etkilediği
görülmektedir. Öğrencilerin olumsuz duygular yaşamasının (MWU=41377,000, p=0,000) duygusal yemeyi arttırdığı bulunmuştur. Öğrencilerin yediklerinin miktarını sınırlamakta
sorun yaşamaları (MWU=30055,000, p=0,000), aç olmadıkları halde yemek yeme atağı geçirmeleri (MWU=33197,500, p=0,000), uykuyu ertelemek için gece geç saatlerde yemek
yemeleri (MWU=37189,500, p=0,000), doyduktan sonra yemek yemeye devam etmeleri (MWU=43409,500, p=0,000), anlık ve dürtüsel yemek yemeleri (MWU=42097,500, p=0,000),
yemek yerken duygularının kendisini yönlendirmesi (MWU=33343,500, p=0,000), kilo alıp vermenin ruhsal durumuna etkisinin olması (MWU=33097,500, p=0,000), duygusal yeme
nedeni ile sağlık profesyoneline başvurması (MWU=17569,500, p=0,000) ve gizli gizli yemek yemesi (MWU=30653,500, p=0,000) duygusal yemeyi etkilemektedir.

Sonuç: Öğrencilerin duygusal yemesine neden olan faktörlerin çoğunlukla kadın cinsiyetinde olmalarının ve olumsuz duygular yaşamalarının neden olduğu bulunmuştur. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda öğrencilere problem çözme becerilerinin ve stresle baş etme tekniklerinin öğretilmesi uygun olacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Sağlık eğitimi, öğrenci, duygusal yeme, etkileyen faktör.

Abstract
Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to determine emotional eating and affecting factors in university students in health education.

Material and Method: Study data were collected between October 2017 and December 2017. The study sample consisted of 749 students in the nursing and midwifery department
of a university. Data were collected using a questionnaire form on emotional eating and Emotional Eating Scale (EES).

Results: The mean age of the students was 20.63±1.73, and 80.9% of the students were female. Being a woman (WU=26171.500, p=0.000), having a mother with a high school or
higher education (KW=9.804, p=0.020), and not sharing a room (MWU=53154.000, p=0.018) have an effect on the mean scores of students on the Emotional Eating Scale. Negative
emotions seemed to increase emotional eating in students (MWU=41377.000, p=0.000). Experiencing problems in controlling the amount of food they eat (MWU=30055.000,
p=0.000), eating without being hungry (MWU=33197.500; p=0.000), eating late at night to delay sleep (MWU=37189.500, p=0.000), continuing eating even after feeling full
(MWU=43409.500, p=0.000), spontaneous and impulsive eating (MWU=42097.500, p=0.000), letting emotions control them while eating (MWU=33343.500, p=0.000), being
mentally affected by weight loss and gain (MWU=33097.500, p=0.000), consulting a healthcare professional for emotional eating (MWU=17569.500, p=0.000), and eating in
secret (MWU=30653.500, p=0.000) have an effect on emotional eating. 

Conclusion: Factors affecting emotional eating in students are mostly being a woman and having negative emotions. Based on these results, it can be recommended that students should receive education and training on problem solving skills and stress coping techniques.

Keywords: Health education, student, emotional eating, affecting factor. 

Keywords

• Sağlık eğitimi
• öğrenci
• duygusal yeme
• etkileyen faktör

References

1. 1. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int. 2006. Erişim tarihi: Ocak 1, 2019.
2. 2. Baysal A. Beslenme. 11. Baskı. Ankara: Hatiboğlu Yayınevi. 2007.
3. 3. Baysal A. Beslenme. 18. Baskı. Ankara: Hatiboğlu Yayınevi. 2018.
4. 4. Konttinen H, Mannisto S, Sarlio-Lahteenlorva S, Männistö S, Ari Haukkala A. Emotional eating and physical activity self-efficacy as pathways in the association between depressive symptoms and adiposity indicators. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010; 92:1031-39.
5. 5. De Lauzon-Guillain B, Basdevant A, Romon M, Karlsson J, Borys JM, Charles MA, et al. Is restrained eating a risk factor for weight gain in a general population? Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 83:132-38.
6. 6. Cotter E, Kelly N. Stress-related eating, mindfulness, and obesity. Health Pschology. 2018; 37(6):516-25.
7. 7. Bast E, Berry E. Laugh away the fat? Therapeutic humor in the control of stress-induced emotional eating. Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal. 2014; 3-4.
8. 8. Zellner DA, Loaiza S, Gonzalez Z, Pita J, Morales J, Pecora D, et al. Food selection changes under stress. Physiol Behav. 2006; 87:789-93.

9. 9. Wallis DJ, Hetherington MM. Emotions and eating: self-reported and experimentally induced changes in food intake under stress. Appetite. 2009; 52:355-62.
10. 10. Pinaquy S, Chabrol H, Simon C, Louvet JP, Barbe P. Emotional eating, alexithymia, and binge-eating disorder in obese women. Obesity Research. 2003; 11:195-201.
11. 11. Ouwens MA, Van Strien T, Van Leeuwe JFJ, Van der Staak CPF. The dual pathway model of overeating. Replication and extension with actual food consumption. Appetite. 2009; 52:234-7.
12. 12. Dressler H, Smith C. Depression affects emotional eating and dietary intake and is related to food insecurity in a group of multiethnic, lowincome women. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. 2015; 10:496-510.
13. 13. Konttinen H, Van Strien T, Männistö S, Jousilahti P, Haukkala A. Depression, emotional eating and longterm weight changes: a population-based prospective study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2019; 16:28.
14. 14. Wardle J, Sanderson S, Guthrie CA, Rapoport L, Plomin R. Parental feeding style and the inter-generational transmission of obesity risk. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2002;10:453-62.
15. 15. Brown R, Ogden J. Children’s eating attitudes and behaviour: a study of the modelling and control theories of parental influence. Health Educ Research. 2004;19:261-71.
16. 16. Macht M. How emotions affect eating: A five-way model. Appetite. 2008; 50:1-11.
17. 17. Koball A, Meers MR, Storfer-Isser A, Domoff SE, Musher-Eizenman DR. Eating when bored: revision of the emotional eating scale with a focus on boredom. Health Psychology. 2012; 31:521-24.
18. 18. Turner SA, Luszczynska A, Warner L, Schwarzer R. Emotional and uncontrolled eating styles and chocolate chip cookie consumption: a controlled trial of the effects of positive mood enhancement. Appetite. 2010; 54:143-9.
19. 19. Macht M. Characteristics of eating in anger, fear, sadness, and joy. Appetite. 1999; 33:129-39.
20. 20. Macht M, Roth S, Ellgring H. Chocolate eating in healthymen during experimentally induced sadness and joy. Appetite. 2002; 39:147-58.
21. 21. Evgin D, Çalışkan Z, Caner N. Sağlık yüksekokulu hemşirelik bölümü öğrencilerinin klinik uygulama öncesi kaygı düzeyleri ve stresle başa çıkma tarzları. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2017; 8:22-8.
22. 22. Ergin E, Çevik K, Pakiş Çetin S. Hemşirelik öğrencilerinin eğitimlerine ilişkin algıladığı stres ve stresle baş etme davranışlarının incelenmesi. Hemşirelikte Eğitim ve Araştırma Dergisi. 2018; 15:16-22.
23. 23. Arslantaş H, Dereboy F, Yüksel R, İnalkaç S. Duygusal Yeme Ölçeği’nin Türkçe çevirisinin geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2020; 31(2):122-30.
24. 24. Garaulet M, Canteras M, Morales E, López-Guimera G, SánchezCarracedo D, Corbalán-Tutau MD. Validation of a questionnaire on emotional eating for use in cases of obesity; the Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). Nutricion Hospitalaria. 2012; 27:645-51.
25. 25. Thompson SH, Romeo S. Gender and racial differences in emotional eating, food addiction symptoms, and body weight satisfaction among undergraduates. Journal of Diabetes and Obesity. 2015; 2(2): 93- 98.
26. 26. Candan HD, Küçük L. Lise öğrencilerinde yeme bağımlılığı ve etkileyen faktörler. Psikiyatri Hemşireliği Dergisi. 2019; 10(1):12-9.
27. 27. Nguyen-Rodrıguez ST, Unger JB, Spruıjt-Metz D. Psychological determinants of emotional eating in adolescence. Journal Eating Disorders. 2009; 17: 211-24.
28. 28. Chamberlin AA. Academic-Related Factors And Emotional Eating In Adolescents. Presented to the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences California State University, Long Beach, In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences. 2015.
29. 29. İnalkaç S, Arslantaş H. Duygusal yeme. Arşiv Kaynak Tarama Dergisi. 2018; 27:70-82.
30. 30. De Lauzon-Guillain B, Romon M, Musher-Eizenman D, Heude B, Basdevant S, Charles MA, et al. Cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating: correlations between parent and adolescent. Maternal and Child Nutrition. 2009; 5:171-78.
31. 31. Zhu H, Luo X, Cai T, Li Z, Liu W. Self-control and parental control mediate the relationship between negative emotions and emotional eating among adolescents. Appetite. 2014; 82:202-7.
32. 32. Macht M, Simons G. Emotions and eating in everyday life. Appetite. 2000; 35:65-71.
33. 33. Arslantaş H, Adana F, Öğüt S, Ayakdaş D, Korkmaz A. Hemşirelik öğrencilerinin yeme davranışları ve ortoreksiya nervoza (sağlıklı beslenme takıntısı) ilişkisi: Kesitsel bir çalışma. Psikiyatri Hemşireliği Dergisi. 2017; 8(3): 137-44.
34. 34. Amerikan Psikiyatri Birliği (APA) Ruhsal Bozuklukların Tanısal ve Sayımsal Elkitabı, Tanı Ölçütleri Başvuru Elkitabı (E Köroğlu Çev). Beşinci Baskı (DSM-5), Ankara: Hekimler Yayın Birliği. 2013.
35. 35. Van Strien T. Causes of emotional eating and matched treatment of obesity. Current Diabetes Reports. 2018; 18(6): 35.
36. 36. Tan CC, Chow CM. Stress and emotional eating: The mediating role of eating dysregulation. Personality and Individual Differences. 2014; 66:1-4.
37. 37. Blackman MC, Kvaska CA. Nutrition Psychology Improving Dietary Adherence. Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2011. 235 p.
38. 38. Gibson EL, Green MW. Nutritional influences on cognitive function: mechanisms of susceptibility. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2002;15:169- 206.
39. 39. Lemmens SG, Martens EA, Born JM, Martens MJ, Westerterp Plantenga MS. Lack of effect of high-protein vs. high carbohydrate meal intake on stressrelated mood and eating behavior. Nutrition Journal. 2011;10:136.
40. 40. Martens MJ, Rutters F, Lemmens SG, Born JM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Effects of single macronutrients on serum cortisol concentrations in normal weight men. Physiology & Behavior. 2010;101:563-7.
41. 41. Wansink B, Cheney MM, Chan N. Exploring comfort food preferences across age and gender. Physiology & Behavior. 2003;79:739-47.
42. 42. Firk C, Markus CR. Mood and cortisol responses following tryptophanrich hydrolyzed protein and acute stress in healthy subjects with high and low cognitive reactivity to depression. Clin Nutr. 2009;28:266-71.
43. 43. Blair A, Lewis V, Booth D. Does emotional eating interfere with success in at tempts at weight control? Appetite. 1990;15:151-57.
44. 44. Waters A, Hill A, Waller G. Bulimic’s responses to food cravings: Is bingeeating a product of hunger or emotional state? Behav Res Ther. 2001; 39:877-86.
45. 45. Waller G, Osman S. Emotional eating and eating psychopathology among non-eating-disordered women. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1998;23:419-24.