Associations Among Binge Eating Behaviors, Emotion Regulation, and Chronotype in Female Greek University Students

This study aimed to examine the associations among binge eating behaviors (BEBs), emotion regulation (ER), and chronotypes, and whether ER mediates the relationship between chronotypes and BEBs in Greek female university students, a population in which these associations have not previously been investigated.

This study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (No. 91/23, dated 17/02/2023). A total of 269 female students [mean age (±SD) = 21.06 (±4.35)] from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and four validated instruments: the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Binge Eating Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire.

BEBs were significantly correlated with eating psychopathology (rs = 0.723, p < 0.001) and with difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) (rs = 0.429, p < 0.001). ER difficulties were also associated with eating psychopathology (rs = 0.434, p < 0.001). An evening chronotype was significantly associated with greater ER difficulties (rs = -0.150, 0.014). Mediation analysis indicated that ER difficulties fully mediated the relationship between eveningness and BEBs (Indirect Effect = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.01).

ER difficulties are associated with both BEBs and eveningness. While eveningness is not directly associated with BEBs, it is indirectly related through ER difficulties, suggesting a potential psychological mechanism underlying this relationship.

ER difficulties may be a key mechanism linking evening chronotype to BEBs. Future studies could explore whether interventions targeting ER and circadian alignment are beneficial for managing BEBs among individuals with an evening chronotype.