Psychological Predictors of Unhealthy Eating Attitudes in Young Adults

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the predictive role of psychological risk factors for restrained and compulsive eating in young women and men. We examined the relationship between resilience, impulsivity, emotional intelligence and self-esteem, and restrained and compulsive eating. It was assumed that resilience and impulsivity can directly explain unhealthy eating attitudes (restrained and compulsive: both emotional eating and external eating). The study group comprised 211 individuals (105 men and 106 women) aged 20–29, all of whom were living in southern Poland. Measures included the Resilience Measurement Scale (SPP-25), the Eysenck’s Impulsivity Inventory (IVE), the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI), the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (INTE), and the Polish adaptation of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). The statistical analysis showed significant and positive correlations between emotional eating and general self-esteem, impulsivity, and weaker (but still significant) correlations with physical attractiveness. External eating was positively and significantly correlated with impulsivity and self-esteem (including physical attractiveness). Restrained eating was also positively and significantly correlated with general self-esteem. Both types of compulsive eating attitudes (emotional and external eating) were significantly and negatively correlated with resilience. Women showed a significantly higher positive correlation between impulsivity and external eating compared to men. The level of intensity of other measures proved similar across the entire study group regardless of sex. Impulsivity had the strongest and most direct significant influence on both emotional eating and external eating, and a negative effect on emotional intelligence. Resilience proved to have a significant impact on all three examined types of eating attitude (a direct negative effect on emotional eating and external eating, and positive direct effect on restrained eating), self-esteem, and emotional intelligence. An important psychological intervening variable in generating unhealthy eating attitudes proved to be self-esteem among both men and women. Emotional intelligence, which remains correlated with resilience, proved independent, with no effect on unhealthy eating attitudes. These results suggest that preventive treatment and educational programs implemented particularly among adolescents and young adults may support development of their psychological resources.

Socio-Cultural Standards Promoted by the Mass Media as Predictors of Restrictive and Bulimic Behavior

“…Recent research has shown that commercials and standards of physical appearance and body image promoted by the mass media usually affect how appealing body image should look like (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). The influence produced by media, advertising, websites, and personal networks is examined (18).…”

“…However, not many studies determine the strength of the interrelationship between body image standards presented by the mass media and restrictive and bulimic behavior in a homogeneous population of women and men in term of age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and socioeconomic status. Most of this research was conducted on groups of girls and women (5,9,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Only a few articles emphasize the importance of the relation between the internalization of socio-cultural standards of attractive appearance and ideal athletic body image and self-assessment in men and it is possible these variables predict restrictive and bulimic (compulsive) eating behavior in men too (24,25).…”

What Dimensions of Risk Perception are Associated with Avoidance of Buying Processed Foods with Warning Labels?

“…The product with NWLs can generate some degree of dissatisfaction or disappointment in the consumer for not making a good decision about food. This disagreement can psychologically affect consumer self-esteem, both in men and women [ 43 ]. Therefore, it is imperative that food-producing companies must reformulate their products so that consumers have access to less harmful food for their physical and mental health.…”

Self-Assessment of the Body and Social Competences in the Group of Mothers and Their Adult Daughters

“…These differences seem to disappear over the age of 30. Self-esteem for women in the period of adolescence and young adulthood seems to be more associated with how physical attractiveness is promoted in media coverage [1,2,37]. On the other hand, Robins et al referred to the known developmental theory which indicated that full adulthood is associated with acquisition of psychological maturity and redirecting attention to self-improvement and being productive.…”

“…Although this issue seems to be important for developing scientific knowledge, which could support preventive healthcare and promote pro-health behaviours towards the body. Available sources of literature indicate that modern scientists often search for psychological and sociocultural factors influencing the development of the body image in the groups of healthy people and in groups of people presenting various types of eating disorders [1,2,3]. Moreover, scientific measurements of the relation between social competences and self-esteem, which include self-assessment of the body, have appeared for many years among the research topics conducted on adult population [4,5].…”