The Influence of Chronic Stress and Emotions on Eating Behavior Patterns and Weight among Young African American Women
Abstract
This study examines the influence of chronic stress, varied positive and negative emotions on eating behaviors, and weight among 91 community-dwelling African American women 18–40 years old. Study measures include hair cortisol, Differential Emotional Scale IV, Eating Behavior Pattern Questionnaire, demographic form, waist circumference, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Analysis revealed positive emotions of interest ( r s = .27, p = .011) and surprise ( r s = .23, p = .029) were associated with low fat eating. Negative emotions of anger ( r s = .23, p = .035), shyness ( r s = .29, p = .006), and guilt ( r s = .24, p = .022) were positively associated with emotional eating. Mediation analysis suggests that emotional eating mediates anger (indirect effect = 0.136), shyness (0.144), guilt (0.187), and BMI among young African American women. Chronic stress and positive and negative emotions impact eating behaviors and should be considered for successful weight management among African American women.
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Research on binge eating disorder highlights a strong link between stress and binge eating, with state-level stress and its negative affects correlating with binge eating episodes in both laboratory and natural settings.
“Research on binge eating disorder highlights the strong link between stress and binge eating, with state-level stress and its negative affects correlating with binge eating episodes in both laboratory and natural settings [93,94,95,96].”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [94]
A study of Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that stress and anxiety were indirectly linked to overeating.
“A study of Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that stress and anxiety were indirectly linked to overeating.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [94]
Positive emotions such as interest and surprise were linked to low-fat eating, while negative emotions like anger, shyness, and guilt were associated with emotional eating.
“Positive emotions such as interest and surprise were linked to low-fat eating, while negative emotions like anger, shyness, and guilt were associated with emotional eating.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [94]
Chronic stress and emotional states significantly impact eating behaviors.
“Chronic stress and emotional states significantly impact eating behaviors.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [94]
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- Authors
- Pickett, S., McCoy, T. P., & Odetola, L.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
- Corresponding author
- Pickett, Stephanie
- Venue
- Western Journal of Nursing Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-01-16
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 894-902
- ISSN
- 0193-9459 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8456
- OpenAlex
- W3000058968
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 1.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Western Journal of Nursing Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- chronic stress, emotions, dietary habits, emotional eating, body mass index, weight, African American women, young women, hair cortisol, anger, guilt, shyness, positive emotions, weight management
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Black or African American, Body Weight, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emotions, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Body Mass Index
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