Abstract

VAZQUEZ-VAZQUEZ, Vanessa M. et al. Empirical Model of Emotional Eating in Mexican Undergraduate University Students. Psicumex [online]. 2022, vol.12, e462.  Epub Jan 13, 2023. ISSN 2007-5936.  https://doi.org/10.36793/psicumex.v12i1.462.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of psychological factors (anxiety, poor emotional regulation, impulsivity, and maladaptive perfectionism) on emotional eating and body composition of undergraduates through an empirical model. The sample consisted of 584 young people (X̅ = 19.92, SD = 3.93), who completed a demographic survey, a battery of psychological tests to measure emotional eating, and the set of factors mentioned above. In addition, the body mass index and the percentage of fat were obtained with a stadiometer and bioimpedance analyzer. According to the findings, the mediating role of emotional eating between psychological factors and body composition was verified (χ2 = 37.38, g.l = 26 [p > .05], NFI, TLI, CFI and GFI ≥ .95, SRMR = .03 and RMSEA < .06; β = .23, p < .05). Specifically, impulsivity (β = .56, p < .05) showed significant effect on higher emotional eating. According to the findings obtained, the need to train young people in impulse management and emotional regulation skills is denoted in order to reduce the use of food as a coping strategy.

Keywords : emotional eating; university students; body composition; empirical models; impulsivity.

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