From Craving to Calm: The Role of Mindful Eating in Modulating Emotional Eating and Affect

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating and food cravings significantly impact dietary behaviours among university students, leading to potential long-term health implications. Mindful eating practices may mitigate these effects by fostering a greater awareness of eating triggers and responses.Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationships between mindful eating, emotional eating, food cravings, and affective states in a university student population.Methods: A cross-sectional design was utilized, enrolling 113 students from various universities who completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait, Mindful Eating Behavior Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson bivariate correlations, and multiple linear regression.Results: Results indicated that mindful eating negatively correlated with negative affect (r = -0.28, p < 0.01) and positively with positive affect (r = 0.41, p < 0.01). Emotional eating was significantly predicted by negative affect (β = 0.20, p < 0.02), whereas food cravings did not significantly predict mindful eating scores (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Higher levels of positive affect are associated with increased mindful eating behaviors. Tailoring interventions to enhance positive emotional states may enhance mindful eating practices among university students.