Comfort eating, psychological stress, and depressive symptoms in young adult women

Finch, Laura E.; Tomiyama, A. Janet

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.07.017

Cited by 71 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…In relation to eating, stress driven eating is widely considered as contributing to weight gain [42, 43]. Stress induced eating among nurses may be psychologically driven, whereby eating offers comfort and relief from a preceding aversive experience [44]. Previous research has also revealed that individuals who use food as comfort frequently report difficult childhood family relationships characterised by loneliness [45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour: a theory-informed qualitative interview study

et al. 2017

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BackgroundUnhealthy eating and physical activity behaviours are common among nurses but little is known about determinants of eating and physical activity behaviour in this population. The present study used a theoretical framework which summarises the many possible determinants of different health behaviours (the Theoretical Domains Framework; TDF) to systematically explore the most salient determinants of unhealthy eating and physical activity behaviour in hospital-based nurses.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews based on the TDF were conducted with nurses (n = 16) to explore factors that behavioural theories suggest may influence nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour. Important determinants of the target behaviours were identified using both inductive coding (of categories emerging from the data) and deductive coding (of categories derived from the TDF) of the qualitative data.ResultsThirteen of the fourteen domains in the TDF were found to influence nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour. Within these domains, important barriers to engaging in healthy eating and physical activity behaviour were shift work, fatigue, stress, beliefs about negative consequences, the behaviours of family and friends and lack of planning. Important factors reported to enable engagement with healthy eating and physical activity behaviours were beliefs about benefits, the use of self-monitoring strategies, support from work colleagues, confidence, shift work, awareness of useful guidelines and strategies, good mood, future holidays and receiving compliments.ConclusionsThis study used a theory-informed approach by applying the TDF to identify the key perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour. The findings suggest that future efforts to change nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviours should consider targeting a broad range of environmental, interpersonal and intrapersonal level factors, consistent with a socio-ecological perspective.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40608-017-0154-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour: a theory-informed qualitative interview study

et al. 2017

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“…The cross-sectional nature of the study does not allow for inference on temporal ordering. For example, previous research indicates that depression may lead to changes in dietary patterns, including eating comfort foods, which tend be calorie-dense foods high in sugar and fat (Finch & Tomiyama, 2015). However, it should be noted that previous research indicates that the DII stays relatively constant over a period of 6 years (Tabung et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dietary Inflammatory Index, shift work, and depression: Results from NHANES.

Wirth¹,

Shivappa²,

Burch³

et al. 2017

Health Psychology

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Objectives Abnormal physiology (e.g., inflammation), brought on by environmental exposures (e.g., diet or shiftwork [SW]), can affect numerous bodily systems, including the brain, and may be associated with depressive symptomatology. The study examined the associations between shiftwork and depressive symptoms and diet-related inflammation (estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index [DII]TM) and depressive symptoms. Additionally, diet was examined as a mediator between shiftwork and depressive symptoms. Methods Data were obtained from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2012). SW data were based on self-report. Dietary data were collected using 24-hour dietary recalls for DII calculation. Depressive symptoms were defined using a cut-point of 10 (moderate) on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for depressive symptoms by SW and DII quartiles. Results DII scores were associated with depressive symptoms among women. Women in DII quartile 4 were 30% more likely to report depressive symptoms than women in quartile 1 (95%CI=1.00–1.68). There was no association between symptoms and SW when using a PHQ-9 cut-point of 10. When using a cut-point of 5 (mild depressive symptoms), those working any form of shiftwork were more likely to suffer from mild symptoms than day workers (odds ratio=1.22; 95%CI=1.04–1.43). There was some evidence for mediation by the DII between SW and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Future longitudinal studies should examine effects of reductions in inflammation through diet on depressive symptoms, especially among shiftworkers, to elucidate the role of diet on depression among these groups.

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“…Most women expressed knowledge about what constitutes a healthy diet and eating pattern but at the same time they reported lacking the ability to resist unhealthy eating when faced with emotional or physical distress. Excessive eating often functions as a way to relax, as distraction or as comfort [47]. This reveals an area where interventions may improve by offering therapeutic support to help women explore the underlying reasons and thereby better cope with emotional discomfort.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's Perceived Reasons for Their Excessive Postpartum Weight Retention: A Qualitative Interview Study

et al. 2016

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IntroductionObesity in Sweden has doubled to 14% over the last 20 years. New strategies for treatment and prevention are needed. Excessive gestational weight gain has been found to contribute substantially to obesity, and there is a consistent association between postpartum weight retention and obesity later in life. We aimed to explore what factors women perceive as reasons for having substantial postpartum weight retention, to identify areas for new and improved interventions.MethodsQualitative interview study (semi-structured) using an emergent design. Fifteen women, with a postpartum weight retention ≥ 10 kg, were interviewed by a trained cognitive therapist. Eight women had pre-pregnancy BMI below 30 kg/m2. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data analysed using inductive manifest content analysis. Salient text passages were extracted, shortened, coded and clustered into categories.ResultsParticipants reported no knowledge of current gestational weight gain recommendations or of risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes with excessive weight gain or postpartum weight retention. Excessive eating emerged as a common strategy to provide relief of psychological, emotional and physical discomfort, such as depression and morning sickness. Women perceived medical staff as being unconcerned about weight, and postpartum weight loss support was scarce or absent. Some women reported eating more due to a belief that breastfeeding would automatically lead to weight loss.ConclusionThere is a need to raise awareness about risks with unhealthy gestational weight development and postpartum weight retention in women of childbearing age. The common strategy to cope with psychological, emotional or physical discomfort by eating is an important factor to target with intervention. The postpartum year is a neglected period where additional follow-up on weight and weight loss support is strongly indicated.

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Comfort eating, psychological stress, and depressive symptoms in young adult women

Cited by 71 publications

References 41 publications

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour: a theory-informed qualitative interview study

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses’ eating and physical activity behaviour: a theory-informed qualitative interview study

The Dietary Inflammatory Index, shift work, and depression: Results from NHANES.

Women's Perceived Reasons for Their Excessive Postpartum Weight Retention: A Qualitative Interview Study

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