Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents

Fatma Elif Eroğlu; İlayda Terlemez; Neslihan Arslan; Büşra Açıkalın Göktürk

doi:10.32322/jhsm.1921891

Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the associations among multidimensional test anxiety, difficulties in emotion regulation, and eating behaviors in adolescents, with a focus on public health-relevant implications during academically stressful periods. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1.713 high school students aged 14-18 years (61.4% girls, 38.6% boys). Data were collected face-to-face using the Multidimensional Test Anxiety Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Power of Food Scale (PFS), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Body height (cm) and body weight (kg) were self-reported, and body-mass index (BMI) was calculated. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations among the study variables. Results: Girls reported significantly higher levels of multidimensional test anxiety score, emotion regulation difficulties, and eating-behavior subdimensions compared with boys (p<0.001). BMI was positively correlated with hedonic hunger (r=0.059, p=0.015), uncontrolled eating (r=0.104), cognitive restraint (r=0.258), and emotional eating (r=0.128) (all p<0.001). Difficulties in emotion regulation were positively correlated with multidimensional test anxiety score (r=0.488, p<0.001) and with hedonic hunger and eating-behavior subdimensions (p<0.001). In multiple linear regression analyses, emotion regulation difficulties, test anxiety, hedonic hunger, BMI, and gender remained independently associated with eating-behavior subdimensions. Conclusion: Multidimensional test anxiety, hedonic hunger, and eating-behavior dimensions were significantly associated with difficulties in emotion regulation among adolescents, underscoring the interconnected nature of emotional and eating-related processes. These findings highlight the importance of integrated, school-based public health strategies addressing academic stress, emotion regulation skills, and healthy eating behaviors during adolescence.

Keywords

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Promotion

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fatma Elif Eroğlu ^*
0000-0003-0394-4640
Türkiye

İlayda Terlemez
0009-0004-1481-7684
Türkiye

Neslihan Arslan
0000-0002-1232-8009
Türkiye

Büşra Açıkalın Göktürk
0000-0003-1084-2570
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 19, 2026

Submission Date

April 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1921891

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA53EU39RT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Eroğlu, F. E., Terlemez, İ., Arslan, N., & Açıkalın Göktürk, B. (2026). Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(5), 1271-1278. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1921891

AMA

1.Eroğlu FE, Terlemez İ, Arslan N, Açıkalın Göktürk B. Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(5):1271-1278. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1921891

Chicago

Eroğlu, Fatma Elif, İlayda Terlemez, Neslihan Arslan, and Büşra Açıkalın Göktürk. 2026. “Associations Between Eating Behaviors, Multidimensional Test Anxiety, and Emotion Regulation Difficulties Among Adolescents”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (5): 1271-78. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1921891.

EndNote

Eroğlu FE, Terlemez İ, Arslan N, Açıkalın Göktürk B (September 1, 2026) Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 5 1271–1278.

IEEE

[1]F. E. Eroğlu, İ. Terlemez, N. Arslan, and B. Açıkalın Göktürk, “Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 1271–1278, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1921891.

ISNAD

Eroğlu, Fatma Elif - Terlemez, İlayda - Arslan, Neslihan - Açıkalın Göktürk, Büşra. “Associations Between Eating Behaviors, Multidimensional Test Anxiety, and Emotion Regulation Difficulties Among Adolescents”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/5 (September 1, 2026): 1271-1278. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1921891.

JAMA

1.Eroğlu FE, Terlemez İ, Arslan N, Açıkalın Göktürk B. Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:1271–1278.

MLA

Eroğlu, Fatma Elif, et al. “Associations Between Eating Behaviors, Multidimensional Test Anxiety, and Emotion Regulation Difficulties Among Adolescents”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 5, Sept. 2026, pp. 1271-8, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1921891.

Vancouver

1.Fatma Elif Eroğlu, İlayda Terlemez, Neslihan Arslan, Büşra Açıkalın Göktürk. Associations between eating behaviors, multidimensional test anxiety, and emotion regulation difficulties among adolescents. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Sep. 1;9(5):1271-8. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1921891