Refining the constructs of positive and negative emotional eating
Date
2022-08-29
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Abstract
Häirunud söömiskäitumist on võimalik vaadelda kontiinumil, mille ühes otsas on normaalne söömine, teises söömishäiretele iseloomulik liigsöömine ja nende keskel ülesöömine. Liigsöömine kätkeb endas ülemäärase toidukoguse tarbimist lühikese aja jooksul, millega kaasneb kontrollitunde puudumine söömise üle. Lisaks üle- ja liigsöömisele võib häirunud söömiskäitumisena käsitleda ka emotsionaalset söömist – söömist vastusena negatiivsetele emotsioonidele, sageli emotsioonide reguleerimise eesmärgil, ja positiivset emotsionaalset söömist. Viimase puhul ei ole aga selge, kas see on patoloogiline või osa normaalsest söömisest. Kuna häirunud söömiskäitumist esineb ka tavapopulatsioonis ja see on oluline riskifaktor söömishäire tekkeks, oli käesoleva doktoritöö eesmärk uurida emotsionaalse söömise konstrukti, eristades positiivsete ja negatiivsete emotsioonide ajel söömist, ja vaadata lähemalt, kuidas kumbki seostub söömishäirele iseloomulike joonte ja raskustega emotsioonide reguleerimisel. Leidsime nii sarnasusi kui erinevusi positiivse ja negatiivse emotsionaalse söömise vahel. Nimelt seostus negatiivsete emotsioonide ajel söömine tugevalt liigsöömise, söömishäiretele iseloomulike joonte ja raskustega emotsioonide reguleerimisel. Positiivne emotsionaalne söömine seevastu seostus ülesöömisega, mis viitab sellele, et positiivne emotsionaalne söömine ei pruugi olla patoloogiline. Samas esines peamiselt positiivsete emotsioonide ajel sööjatel mõningaid raskusi impulsikontrollis ja oma emotsioonidega toimetulekul võrreldes inimestega, kel emotsionaalset söömist ei esinenud. Need tulemused viitavad sellele, et raskused tugevate tunnetega toimetulekul – olgu need positiivsed või negatiivsed – võivad olla riskifaktoriks häirunud söömiskäitumise tekkes ja arengus. Huvitaval kombel esines positiivsete emotsioonide ajel ülesöömist rohkem meestel, mis viitab olulistele soolistele erinevustele emotsionaalses söömises. Kokkuvõttes täpsustasime emotsionaalse söömise olemust, näidates, et negatiivsete emotsioonide ajel söömine on oluline riskifaktor söömishäire tekkeks. Samuti täpsustasime positiivsete emotsioonide rolli söömiskäitumises, näidates, et selle seos häirunud söömiskäitumisega on mitmetahuline ning vajab edasist uurimist.
Dysregulated eating could be viewed on a continuum, with normal eating behaviour on one end, binge eating on the other end, and overeating in the middle of the continuum. Binge eating refers to consuming an excessive amount of food within a short period of time that is accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over eating. In addititon to over- and binge eating, emotional eating could also be considered a dysregulated eating behaviour. Emotional eating refers to the tendency to eat in response to various negative emotions, usually with an intent to alleviate negative affect. Lately, the concept of positive emotional eating has also emerged, although its relation with eating disorder psyhopathology is unclear. As dysregulated eating behaviours are also seen in community samples and as they represent risk factors for developing an eating disorder, the aim of this doctoral dissertation was to explore the construct of emotional eating, while differentiating between eating in response to positive and negative emotions, and to further investigate their associations with eating pathology and emotion regulation difficulties. We found important similarities as well as differences between positive and negative emotional eating. Namely, eating in response to negative emotions was more closely related to binge eating, general eating pathology, and difficulties with regulating emotions. Positive emotional eating, however, was associated with overeating, which suggests that eating in response to positive emotions might not itself be pathological. However, individuals who endorsed primarily positive emotional eating were characterized by increased difficulties in regulating their impulses and emotions in general compared to individuals without emotional eating. These results indicate that difficulties in managing one’s emotions – be it positive or negative – might be a risk factor for the development and maintenance of dysregulated eating. Interestingly, positive emotional eating appeared to be more pronounced in men, pointing towards important sex differences in emotional eating. In conclusion, we clarified the construct of emotional eating by further confirming that eating in response to negative emotions is an important risk factor for eating disorder psychopathology. We also clarified the role of positive emotions in eating behaviours by showing that its relationship with dysregulated eating is multifaceted and therefore in need of further research.
Dysregulated eating could be viewed on a continuum, with normal eating behaviour on one end, binge eating on the other end, and overeating in the middle of the continuum. Binge eating refers to consuming an excessive amount of food within a short period of time that is accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over eating. In addititon to over- and binge eating, emotional eating could also be considered a dysregulated eating behaviour. Emotional eating refers to the tendency to eat in response to various negative emotions, usually with an intent to alleviate negative affect. Lately, the concept of positive emotional eating has also emerged, although its relation with eating disorder psyhopathology is unclear. As dysregulated eating behaviours are also seen in community samples and as they represent risk factors for developing an eating disorder, the aim of this doctoral dissertation was to explore the construct of emotional eating, while differentiating between eating in response to positive and negative emotions, and to further investigate their associations with eating pathology and emotion regulation difficulties. We found important similarities as well as differences between positive and negative emotional eating. Namely, eating in response to negative emotions was more closely related to binge eating, general eating pathology, and difficulties with regulating emotions. Positive emotional eating, however, was associated with overeating, which suggests that eating in response to positive emotions might not itself be pathological. However, individuals who endorsed primarily positive emotional eating were characterized by increased difficulties in regulating their impulses and emotions in general compared to individuals without emotional eating. These results indicate that difficulties in managing one’s emotions – be it positive or negative – might be a risk factor for the development and maintenance of dysregulated eating. Interestingly, positive emotional eating appeared to be more pronounced in men, pointing towards important sex differences in emotional eating. In conclusion, we clarified the construct of emotional eating by further confirming that eating in response to negative emotions is an important risk factor for eating disorder psychopathology. We also clarified the role of positive emotions in eating behaviours by showing that its relationship with dysregulated eating is multifaceted and therefore in need of further research.
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