Effects of negative mood induction and impulsivity on self-perceived emotional eating

Int J Eat Disord. 2004 Dec;36(4):461-9. doi: 10.1002/eat.20041.

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigates the influence of negative mood induction and impulsivity on self-perceptions with respect to emotional eating. Negative affect as well as high impulsivity was expected to increase levels of self-perceived emotional eating.

Method: College students who were high versus low in impulsivity were assigned randomly to either a negative (failure on a quiz) or a neutral mood induction. Their levels of self-perceived emotional eating were measured after and before mood induction.

Results: Negative affect appeared to enhance the level of self-perceived emotional eating significantly (p < .01). There was no statistically significant effect of impulsivity. The interaction effect of affect and impulsivity approached significance (p = .08), indicating that highly impulsive subjects compared with subjects low in impulsivity were more strongly influenced by negative affect in self-perceived emotional eating.

Discussion: Negative affect substantially influences self-perceptions in terms of emotional eating, which is relevant for both prevention and treatment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Affect*
  • Emotions*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / etiology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Self Concept
  • Students