SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Asya Öğretim Dergisi / 2025 / Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Investigating the Experiences of Individuals with Emotional Eating and Identifying Their Needs for Intervention: A Thematic Analysis Study

Aysu Bayram Saptır(DÜZCE ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-3949-6878
Tuğba Seda Çolak Turan(DÜZCE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, EĞİTİM FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-7219-1999
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-06-30
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that emotional eating is precipitated by negative emotions such as loneliness and stress, as well as social influences.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Emotional eating, characterized by a propensity for excessive consumption in response to positive or negative affect, is a primary factor contributing to numerous eating disorders.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The study comprised twenty-two participants, including 12 females and 10 males.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that emotional eating is precipitated by negative emotions such as loneliness and stress, as well as social influences.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:emotional eating · mindfulness · thematic analysis

Abstract

Emotional eating, characterized by a propensity for excessive consumption in response to positive or negative affect, is a primary factor contributing to numerous eating disorders. This phenomenon is prevalent among individuals experiencing stress and the rapid pace of contemporary life. The present study utilized thematic analysis, a qualitative research methodology, to discern the behavioral patterns of individuals exhibiting emotional eating tendencies. Data were gathered from participants using semi-structured, open-ended questions to explore their emotional eating behaviors. The study comprised twenty-two participants, including 12 females and 10 males. Data collection was conducted via 40-45 minute interviews using Zoom online video conferencing software. The findings indicate that emotional eating is precipitated by negative emotions such as loneliness and stress, as well as social influences. It is associated with adverse outcomes including weight gain, body image concerns, and feelings of guilt. Participants reported employing compensatory strategies, such as distraction techniques and dieting, to manage emotional eating; however, these methods proved ineffective in the long term, highlighting the necessity of addressing underlying causes. This study elucidates that the complexity of emotional eating is influenced by various individual and social factors. The participants emphasized the potential of mindfulness-based intervention programs, suggesting that such approaches could serve as effective components in multidimensional intervention strategies aimed at reducing emotional eating behaviors. Consequently, this study offers practical implications, advocating the incorporation of mindfulness-based strategies into individual, psychoeducational, and clinical interventions to mitigate emotional eating.

🔖

Cite This Article

Saptır, A. B., Turan, T. S. Ç. (2025). Investigating the Experiences of Individuals with Emotional Eating and Identifying Their Needs for Intervention: A Thematic Analysis Study. Asya Öğretim Dergisi, Volume: 13 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.47215/aji.1632484

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (50)

  1. Beccia, A. L., Ruf, A., Druker, S., Ludwig, V. U., & Brewer, J. A. (2020). Women's experiences with a mindful eating program for binge and emotional eating: A qualitative investigation into the process of change. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(10), 937-944. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0318
  2. Beyhan, Y., & Erkut, E. (2021). Emotional eating during the pandemic process. Haliç University Journal of Health Sciences, 4(2), 109–114. https://doi.org/10.48124/husagbilder.848253
  3. Bilgen, S. Ş. (2018). Türkçe duygusal yeme ölçeği geliştirilmesi geçerlilik ve güvenirliği çalışması [Development, validity and reliability study of Turkish emotional eating scale] (Unpublished master’s thesis) Üsküdar University.
  4. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. http://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
  5. Bruch, H. (1978). Obesity and anorexia nervosa. Psychosomatics, 19(4), 208–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0033-3182(78)70990-4
  6. Demirel, B., Yavuz, K. F., Karadere, M. E., Şafak, Y., & Türkçapar, M. H. (2014). The emotional appetite questionnaire (EMAQ)’s reliability and validity and relationship with body mass ındex and emotional schemas.Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy and Research Journal, 3(3), 171–181. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/JCBPR.44046
  7. Endler, N. S., & Parker, J. D. A. (1994). Assessment of multidimensional coping: Task, emotion, and avoidance strategies. Psychological Assessment, 6(1), 50–60. https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.6.1.50
  8. Erkuş, A., & Selvi, H. (2021). Psikolojide ölçme ve ölçek geliştirme III: Ölçek uyarlama ve norm geliştirme [Measurement and scale development in psychology III: Scale adaptation and norm development]. Pegem Akademi.
  9. Frayn, M., Livshits, S., & Knäuper, B. (2018). Emotional eating and weight regulation: a qualitative study of compensatory behaviors and concerns. Journal of Eating Disorders, 14(6), 23-33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-018-0210-6
  10. Greeno, C. G., & Wing, R. R. (1994). Stress-induced eating. Psychological Bulletin, 115(3), 444-464. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.115.3.444
  11. Groesz, L. M., McCoy, S., Carl, J., Saslow, L., Stewart, J., Adler, N., Laraia, B., & Epel, E. (2012). What is eating you? Stress and the drive to eat. Appetite, 58(2), 717–721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.11.028
  12. Haedt-Matt, A. A., & Keel, P. K. (2011). Revisiting the affect regulation model of binge eating: A meta-analysis of studies using ecological momentary assessment. Psychological Bulletin, 137(4), 660–681. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023660
  13. Haedt-Matt, A. A., Keel, P. K., Racine, S. E., Burt, S. A., Hu, J. Y., Boker, S., Neale, M., & Klump, K. L. (2014). Do emotional eating urges regulate affect? Concurrent and prospective associations and implications for risk models of binge eating. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(8), 874–877. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22247
  14. Herman, C. P. (1978). Restrained eating. Psychiatric Clinics, 1(3), 593-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-953X(18)31041-4
  15. Herman, C. P., & Mack, D. (1975). Restrained and unrestrained eating. Journal of Personality, 43(4), 647–660. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1975.tb00727.x
  16. Herman, C. P., & Polivy, J. (1980). Restrained eating. In J. Stunkard (Ed.), Obesity (pp. 208–225). W.B. Saunders. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2688038
  17. Jalo, E., Konttinen, H., Vepsäläinen, H., Chaput, J. P., Hu, G., Maher, C., Maia, J., Sarmiento, O. L., Standage, M., Tudor-Locke, C., Katzmarzyk, P. T., & Fogelholm, M. (2019). Emotional eating, health behaviours and obesity in children: A 12-country cross-sectional study. Nutrients, 11(2), 351-370. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11020351
  18. Jamshed, H., & Arslan, J. (2022). Loneliness, emotional eating and COVID-19 in youth. Current Developments in Nutrition, 6(1), 206-206. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac048.020
  19. Jansen, A. (1998). A learning model of binge eating: Cue reactivity and cue exposure. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36(3), 257-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00055-2
  20. Koball, A. M., Meers, M. R., Storfer-Isser, A., Domoff, S. E., & Musher-Eizenman, D. R. (2012). Eating when bored: Revision of the emotional eating scale with a focus on boredom. Health Psychology: Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 31(4), 521–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025893
  21. Konttinen, H., Kronholm, E., Partonen, T., Kanerva, N., Männistö, S., & Haukkala, A. (2014). Morningness-eveningness, depressive symptoms and emotional eating: A population-based study. Chronobiology International, 31(4), 554–563. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2013.877922
  22. Köse, G. (2021). Yemek yerken düşünmek mümkün mü? [Is it possible to think while eating?]. Akademisyen Yayınevi.
  23. Kristeller, J. L., & Wolever, R. Q. (2011). Mindfulness-based eating awareness training for treating binge eating disorder: The conceptual foundation. Eating Disorders, 19(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2011.533605
  24. Lattimore, P. (2020). Mindfulness-based emotional eating awareness training: Taking the emotional out of eating. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 25(3), 649-657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00667-y
  25. Lindeman, M., & Stark, K. (2001) Emotional eating and eating disorder psychopathology. Eating Disorders, 9(3), 251-259 https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260127552
  26. Litwin, R., Goldbacher, E. M., Cardaciotto, L., & Gambrel, L. E. (2017). Negative emotions and emotional eating: The mediating role of experiential avoidance. Eating and Weight Disorders, 22(1), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-016-0301-9
  27. Lyman, B. (1982). The nutritional values and food group characteristics of foods preferred during various emotions. The Journal of Psychology, 112(1), 121-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1982.9923544
  28. Macht, M. (2008). How emotions affect eating: A five-way model. Appetite, 50(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2007.07.002
  29. Macht, M., & Dettmer, D. (2006). Everyday mood and emotions after eating a chocolate bar or an apple. Appetite, 46(3), 332–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2006.01.014
  30. Macht, M., & Simons, G. (2000). Emotions and eating in everyday life. Appetite, 35(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1006/appe.2000.0325
  31. Manasse, S. M., Espel, H. M., Forman, E. M., Ruocco, A. C., Juarascio, A. S., Butryn, M. L., Zhang, F., & Lowe, M. R. (2015). The independent and interacting effects of hedonic hunger and executive function on binge eating. Appetite, 89(5), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.01.013
  32. Markus, C. R., Verschoor, E., & Smeets, T. (2012). Differential effect of the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region on emotional eating during stress exposure following tryptophan challenge. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 23(4), 410-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2011.01.005
  33. Mehrabian, A. (1980). Basic dimensions for a general psychological theory: Implications for personality, social, environmental and developmental studies. (3rd digital ed.). Oelgeschlager, Gunn & Hain. https://archive.org/details/basicdimensionsf0000mehr/mode/2up
  34. Papies, E. K., Barsalou, L. W., & Custers, R. (2012). Mindful attention prevents mindless impulses. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 3(3), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550611419031
  35. Patel, K. A., & Schlundt, D. G. (2001). Impact of moods and social context on eating behavior. Appetite, 36(2), 111-118. https://doi.org/10.1006/appe.2000.0385
  36. Sala, M., Shankar Ram, S., Vanzhula, I. A., & Levinson, C. A. (2020). Mindfulness and eating disorder psychopathology: A meta‐analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(6), 834-851. http://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23247
  37. Schnepper, R., Richard, A., Wilhelm, F. H., & Blechert, J. (2019). A combined mindfulness-prolonged chewing intervention reduces body weight, food craving and emotional eating. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(1), 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000361
  38. Sevinçer, G. M., & Konuk, N. (2013). Emosyonel yeme. Journal of Mood Disorders, 3(4), 171-178. https://doi.org/10.5455/jmood.20130926052526
  39. Smith, J. M., Serier, K. N., Belon, K. E., Sebastian, R. M., & Smith, J. E. (2020). Evaluation of the relationships between dietary restraint, emotional eating and intuitive eating moderated by sex. Appetite, (1)3, 155-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104817
  40. Spoor, S. T., Bekker, M. H., Van Strien, T., & van Heck, G. L. (2007). Relations between negative affect, coping and emotional eating. Appetite, 48(3), 368–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2006.10.005
  41. Tan, C. C., & Chow, C. M. (2014). Stress and emotional eating: The mediating role of eating dysregulation. Personality and Individual Differences, 66, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.02.033
  42. Tan, C. C., & Holub, S. C. (2011). Children’s self-regulation in eating: Associations with inhibitory control and parents feeding behavior. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 36(3), 340–345. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsq089
  43. Thayer, R. E. (2003). Calm energy: How people regulate mood with food and exercise. Oxford University Press. https://books.google.com.tr/books/about/Calm_Energy.html?id=yl-3aHKzdckC&redir_esc=y
  44. Tucker, L. A., & Bagwell, M. (1991). Television viewing and obesity in adult females. American Journal of Public Health, 81(7), 908–911. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.81.7.908
  45. Van der Horst, K., Bucher, T., Duncanson, K., Murawski, B., & Labbe, D. (2019). Consumer understanding, perception and ınterpretation of serving size ınformation on food labels: A scoping review. Nutrients, 11(9), 21-89. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092189
  46. Van Strien, T. (2018). Causes of emotional eating and matched treatment of obesity. Current Diabetes Reports, 18(6), 35-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-018-1000-x
  47. Van Strien, T., & Ouwens, M. A. (2007). Effects of distress, alexithymia and impulsivity on eating. Eating Behaviors, 8(2), 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2006.06.004
  48. Van Strien, T., Cebolla, A., Etchemendy, E., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Ferrer-García, M., Botella, C., & Baños, R. (2013). Emotional eating and food intake after sadness and joy. Appetite, 66(7), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.02.016
  49. Wallis, D. J., & Hetherington, M. M. (2009). Emotions and eating. Self-reported and experimentally induced changes in food intake under stress. Appetite, 52(2), 355–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2008.11.007
  50. Wansink, B., Cheney, M. M., & Chan, N. (2003). Exploring comfort food preferences across age and gender. Physiology & Behavior, 79(4-5), 739-747. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9384(03)00203-8