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Negative affectivity and eating behavior: Differential relationships between young and middle-aged adults
Libertad Paredes-Díaz1, Yolanda Campos-Uscanga1
1Institute of Public Health, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
|August 11, 2025
Summary
Negative affectivity and emotional eating differ between young and middle-aged adults. Stress impacts eating behaviors differently across age groups, acting as a risk or protective factor.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic stress and anxiety are linked to unhealthy eating patterns and emotional eating.
- Negative affectivity's impact on eating behavior may differ across life stages.
- Understanding age-related differences in stress and eating is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related differences in the association between negative affective states and eating behavior.
- To compare young adults and middle-aged adults regarding their stress, negative affectivity, and eating patterns.
- To explore how stress influences emotional eating dimensions across different adult age groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 172 participants (87 young adults, 85 middle-aged adults).
- Data collection included sociodemographics, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ-Esp), and Emotional Eating Scale.
- Statistical analyses examined differences and correlations between negative affectivity, stress, and eating behaviors by age group.
Main Results:
- Young adults reported higher negative affectivity than middle-aged adults.
- Eating slowness differed between the age groups.
- Stress demonstrated the most significant associations with eating behavior and emotional eating dimensions, varying by age group.
- Negative affectivity correlated inversely with family-related emotional eating in young adults but positively in middle-aged adults.
Conclusions:
- Negative affective states are associated with emotional eating in both young and middle-aged adults, but the nature of this relationship varies significantly.
- The impact of stress on eating behavior can differ, acting as a risk factor in one age group and a protective factor in another.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering age in understanding the complex interplay between psychological distress and eating behaviors.
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