Effects of Stress on Emotional Eating Behavior in Children

Abstract

Background: When children start eating to suppress emotions such as anxiety, this can result in emotional eating. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stress on emotional eating behavior in children. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study’s sample consisted of 291 students in the 5th and 6th grades. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Information Form, Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents, and Perceived Stress Scale for Children (8-11 Years). One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and regression analysis used in the data analysis. Results: The mean age of the children was 10.50±0.50, 58.1% of them were girls, their average height was 143.56±7.88, their weight was 37.30±7.64, and their body mass index was 18.01±2.86. It was determined that a statistically significant and positive relationship between the Perceived Stress Scale in Children and Anxiety-Anger-Frustration Sub-Dimension (r=.183, p<.05), between Depressive Symptoms Sub-Dimension (r=.142, p<.05) and Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (r= .173, p<.05). The study found that stress had a statistically significant effect on emotional eating (t=2.979, p<.05). It appears that 3% of the change in emotional eating is explained (Adjusted R2=.030). A 1-unit increase in stress causes an increase of .442 (β=.442) on emotional eating. Conclusion: The results of this study show that children exhibit emotional eating behavior. Therefore, it is thought that school nurses providing stress management training to children who experience stress by scanning for stress can reduce the effect of emotional eating. © 2024, Dokuz Eylul University. All rights reserved.