Role of Emotional Dysregulation and Childhood Trauma in Emotional Eating Behavior

Objective: Many people, especially women, indulge in eating unhealthy food to cope with stress. Emotional eating may contribute to obesity and different eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The present study aimed to investigate the role of emotion dysregulation in emotional eating behavior. Methods: A sample of ۷۰۰ adults between the ages of ۱۸ to ۵۰ years was selected via purposeful sampling method. The participants completed Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a significant and positive correlation between emotion dysregulation and emotional eating behavior (r=۰.۳۰; P<۰.۰۰۱). Also, there was a significant and positive correlation between childhood trauma and emotional eating behavior (r=۰.۱۹; P<۰.۰۰۱). The results of regression analysis also showed that emotion dysregulation is the strongest predictor of emotional eating behavior. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that emotion dysregulation is a key mechanism in the development of emotional eating in individuals.

Keywords:

Childhood , Psychological trauma , Emotion regulation , Eating