Healthy and binge eating behaviours: the motivational processes underlying peer pressure

ABSTRACT

The WHOunderlined the importance of a healthy diet for the psychophysical well-being of the person. Self Determination Theory highlighted how the interaction between contextual, such as peer pressure, and motivational factors play a fundamental role in promoting healthy eating habits. The present study aims to assess if peer pressure affects eating habits and binge eating through the mediation of motivation. Questionnaires were administered to 588 young-adults aged between 18 and 24 years (M = 20.56, DS = 1.78) in the Italian context. Results suggest that Peer Pressure predicted Controlled Motivation and Autonomous Motivation, and that motivation predicted Eating Behaviors and Binge Eating. In addition, Peer Pressure also has a direct effect on Binge Eating. The results confirm the importance of investigating contextual and motivational factors in the area of prevention and intervention in eating habits.

KEYWORDS:

• Binge eating
• motivation
• eating behavior
• self-Determination Theory

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict to declare.

Data availability statement

The authors are available to provide data upon request

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any financial support or specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.