The association of emotional eating with anxiety, stress and depression among young adults in Selangor

This study investigated the relationship between emotional eating and psychological distress, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, among young adults in Selangor, Malaysia. Emotional eating was defined as a type of eating behavior in which people eat to cope with negative feelings rather than physical hunger. The study used a cross- sectional design with 294 participants aged 18 to 29, who were questioned via self- administered questionnaires. The instruments used were the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). The study discovered a significant positive correlation between emotional eating and psychological distress symptoms, specifically anxiety, stress, and depression. Participants who reported higher levels of stress and anxiety were more likely to engage in emotional eating, implying that it serves as a maladaptive coping mechanism in response to emotional distress. Despite providing momentary relief, emotional eating was found to enhance psychological distress, resulting in a vicious cycle of emotional reliance on food, guilt, and deteriorating mental health. The data show that emotional eating was not only common among young adults in Selangor, but it also has a significant negative impact on both mental and physical health. Since emotional eating does not address the underlying causes of emotional discomfort, the study underlines the importance of interventions focused on stress management and the development of healthier coping mechanisms. This study contributed to a deeper knowledge of emotional eating among young adults, emphasizing the significance of incorporating cultural and demographic aspects when treating mental health and eating behaviors.