Examining the Relationship Between Covid-19 Fear and Distress and Emotional Eating Behaviour Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Post-Pandemic

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 1 Sayı: 2, 11 - 19, 25.12.2024

Emine Kemaloğlu

Öz

The Covid-19 pandemic and the measures taken during this period have emerged as significant events inducing notable psychological effects on individuals, with emotional eating behaviour being one of the consequential outcomes. The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of Covid-19 fear and distress on eating behaviour. The research was conducted on 460 university students. The Covid-19 Related Psychological Distress Scale was utilized to assess the psychological effects of Covid-19, while the Emotional Eating Behaviour Scale was employed to measure emotional eating behaviour. The mean score for the Covid-19 Related Psychological Distress Scale among participants was found to be 36.2±7.2, whereas the Emotional Eating Behaviour Scale score was determined as 71.1±19.1. It was observed that females exhibited higher level of Covid-19 fear and anxiety compared to males, and individuals with higher levels of fear and anxiety were more willing to get vaccinated. The primary significant finding of the study was the positive correlation between the total score of the Covid-19 Related Psychological Distress Scale and the total score of Emotional Eating Behaviour, indicating that the adverse psychological effects induced by Covid-19 also negatively affect individuals' eating behaviour, prompting emotional eating behaviour. In conclusion, the research has elucidated the impact of Covid-19 on eating behaviour, highlighting the pandemic as a contributing factor to individuals' emotional eating behaviour.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Covid-19, emotional eating, fear, pandemic, eating disorders

Etik Beyan

This study was conducted following the guidelines outlined in the Helsinki Declaration. Ethics commission approval was obtained from the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, with decision number 226, dated 10.11.2022. Additionally, permission to conduct the study was obtained from the university rectorate.

Destekleyen Kurum

This work was supported by the TUBITAK under Grant 1919B012111215.

Teşekkür

I would like to thank my student Elif Ebru Çifçi, who helped in the data collection phase of the research.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Kovid-19 Korku ve Sıkıntısı ile Duygusal Yeme Davranışı Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi: Pandemi Sonrası Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Öz

Kovid-19 salgını ve bu dönemde alınan tedbirler, bireylerde psikolojik etkiler oluşturan önemli olaylar olarak ortaya çıkmış ve bunun sonuçlarından biri de duygusal yeme davranışı olmuştur. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, Kovid-19 korku ve sıkıntısının yeme davranışı üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Araştırma 460 üniversite öğrencisi üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kovid-19'un psikolojik etkilerini değerlendirmek amacıyla Kovid-19 İlişkili Psikolojik Sıkıntı Ölçeği, duygusal yeme davranışını ölçmek için ise Duygusal Yeme Davranışı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Katılımcıların Kovid-19 İlişkili Psikolojik Sıkıntı Ölçeği puan ortalaması 36.2±7.2, Duygusal Yeme Davranışı Ölçeği puanı ise 71.1±19.1 olarak belirlenmiştir. Kadınların erkeklere göre daha yüksek düzeyde Kovid-19 korku ve kaygısı sergilediği, korku ve kaygı düzeyi daha yüksek olan bireylerin ise aşı olmaya daha istekli olduğu saptanmıştır. Çalışmanın en önemli bulgusu; Kovid-19 İlişkili Psikolojik Sıkıntı Ölçeği toplam puanı ile Duygusal Yeme Davranışı toplam puanı arasındaki pozitif korelasyon olup, bu bulgu Kovid-19'un neden olduğu olumsuz psikolojik etkilerin bireylerin yeme alışkanlığını da olumsuz etkilediğini göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak araştırma, pandeminin bireylerin duygusal yeme davranışına neden olan bir faktör olabileceğine dikkat çekerek Kovid-19'un yeme davranışı üzerindeki etkisini vurgulamıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kovid-19, duygusal yeme, korku, pandemi, yeme bozuklukları

Kaynakça

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