Structural Modeling the Relationship of Food Addiction and Eating Attitudes of Young Adults with Emotional Appetite and Self-Esteem

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to examine the relationships among food addiction, eating attitudes, emotional appetite, and self-esteem of young adults aged 18–30 years by using a structural model. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,058 volunteers (male = 307, female = 751). The hypothesis that self-esteem of young adults influences their eating attitudes was supported in the study (β = –0.081, p < .05). Another hypothesis was also supported, so self-esteem had a positive effect on food addiction (β = 0.280, p < .05). Furthermore, eating attitude has mediating effects on the relationships between self-esteem and food addiction and between emotional appetite and food addiction. Individuals’ eating attitude, food addiction, emotional appetite, and self-esteem scores were found to be related to each other. This article provides valuable data for studies of disordered eating attitudes, emotional state, and food addiction that are thought to be important for young adults in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Eating attitudes
• emotional appetite
• food addiction
• self-esteem
• structural equation modeling

Acknowledgment

The authors thank the doctorate and undergraduate students of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences of Gazi University, for helping with the collection of data during the research and thank the adult volunteers for their support.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

No financial support was received for this research

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received for this research