The mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress in the relationship between hedonic eating and loneliness in women

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating roles of depression, anxiety, and stress in the relationship between hedonic eating and loneliness among adult women. The study sample consisted of 278 women residing in Gümüşhane, Turkey. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Hedonic Eating Scale. Analyses were conducted using Independent Samples T-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, and Parallel Mediation Analysis (PROCESS Macro Model 4). The findings indicated that there were significant positive relationships between hedonic eating and loneliness, depression, anxiety, and stress. According to the results of the mediation analysis, depression and anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between hedonic eating and loneliness, whereas stress did not play a mediating role. These results suggest that hedonic eating exerts indirect effects on individuals’ psychological well-being and tendencies toward loneliness, highlighting the need for intervention programs focused on enhancing emotional regulation skills.

Keywords

• Hedonic eating
• Loneliness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Women

Kadınlarda hedonik yeme ve yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide depresyon, anksiyete ve stresin aracı rolü

Öz

Bu çalışmada, yetişkin kadınlarda hedonik yeme ve yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide depresyon, anksiyete ve stresin aracılık rollerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmaya, Gümüşhane ilinde ikamet eden 278 kadın katılmıştır. Veriler Demografik Bilgi Formu, UCLA Yalnızlık Ölçeği, Depresyon Anksiyete Stres Ölçeği (DASS-21) ve Hedonik Yeme Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Analizlerde Bağımsız Gruplar T Testi, Tek Yönlü Varyans Analizi (ANOVA), Pearson Momentler Çarpımı Korelasyon Katsayısı ve Paralel Aracılık Analizi (PROCESS Macro Model 4) yöntemleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırma bulguları, hedonik yeme ile yalnızlık, depresyon, anksiyete ve stres arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişkiler olduğunu göstermiştir. Aracılık analizi sonuçlarına göre, depresyon ve anksiyete değişkenlerinin hedonik yeme ile yalnızlık arasındaki ilişkide anlamlı aracı roller üstlendiği, stresin ise aracı rolünün bulunmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, hedonik yemenin bireylerin psikolojik iyilik halleri ve yalnızlık eğilimleri üzerinde dolaylı etkiler yarattığını göstermekte olup, müdahale programlarının duygusal düzenleme becerilerini geliştirmeye odaklanması gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hedonik yeme
• Yalnızlık
• Depresyon
• Anksiyete
• Stres
• Kadınlar

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