IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i3p354-d1601728.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Emotional Eating and Its Relationship with Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Study in College Students

Author

Listed:
  • Isabela Silva

    (Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil)

  • Adriana Lúcia Meireles

    (Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 25400-000, MG, Brazil)

  • Carolina Martins dos Santos Chagas

    (Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil)

  • Clareci Silva Cardoso

    (Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), Divinópolis 35501-296, MG, Brazil)

  • Helian Nunes de Oliveira

    (Medical School, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte 30130-100, MG, Brazil)

  • Eulilian Dias de Freitas

    (Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Avançado Governador Valadares (UFJF-GV), Governador Valadares 35020-220, MG, Brazil)

  • Fernanda de Carvalho Vidigal

    (Faculty of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL), Alfenas 37130-001, MG, Brazil)

  • Luciana Neri Nobre

    (Graduate Program in Sciences of Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK (UFVJM), Diamantina 39100-000, MG, Brazil)

  • Luciana Saraiva da Silva

    (School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia 38405-320, MG, Brazil)

  • Waléria de Paula

    (Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil)

  • Lívia Garcia Ferreira

    (Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health, Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil)

Abstract

Emotional eating refers to overeating triggered by negative emotions, and it is common among those with mental health challenges. Academics are vulnerable to changes in eating habits and mental well-being, especially after the pandemic began. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between emotional eating and the signs and symptoms of mental disorders in undergraduates aged 18 and older. They completed a virtual questionnaire assessing emotional eating using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and mental health by a reduced version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. In this cross-sectional, multicenter survey, 8650 students (65.7% female, average age 22) participated, with a median body mass index of 23.3 kg/m 2 , and 23.8% were enrolled in health-related courses. The median emotional eating score was 44.4 (22.2–66.7), and a large proportion had symptoms of depression (73.2%), stress (68.1%), and anxiety (66.1%). Symptoms of anxiety (CI = 1.291–1.714), depression (CI = 1.469–1.983), and stress (CI = 1.483–2.006) were independently associated with higher emotional eating scores (≥66.7) in multiple regression analyses. Based on the significant associations found, the importance of integrating mental health support and intervention strategies, such as psychological counseling and nutritional guidance, to mitigate emotional eating among university students is highlighted, along with the need for future studies to explore the causal relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabela Silva & Adriana Lúcia Meireles & Carolina Martins dos Santos Chagas & Clareci Silva Cardoso & Helian Nunes de Oliveira & Eulilian Dias de Freitas & Fernanda de Carvalho Vidigal & Luciana Neri , 2025. "Emotional Eating and Its Relationship with Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Study in College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:3:p:354-:d:1601728
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/3/354/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/3/354/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Enrique Ramón-Arbués & Vicente Gea-Caballero & José Manuel Granada-López & Raúl Juárez-Vela & Begoña Pellicer-García & Isabel Antón-Solanas, 2020. "The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress and Their Associated Factors in College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Roni Elran Barak & Kerem Shuval & Qing Li & Reid Oetjen & Jeffrey Drope & Amy L. Yaroch & Bob M. Fennis & Matthew Harding, 2021. "Emotional Eating in Adults: The Role of Sociodemographics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Self-Regulation—Findings from a U.S. National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yuchen Lu, 2024. "Uncovering the Barriers to Foreign Residents' Enrollment in Japan's National Health Insurance: An Econometric Analysis Using Pooled Cross-Sectional Data," Keio-IES Discussion Paper Series 2024-026, Institute for Economics Studies, Keio University.
    2. Rocío Lavigne-Cervan & Borja Costa-López & Rocío Juárez-Ruiz de Mier & Marta Sánchez-Muñoz de León & Marta Real-Fernández & Ignasi Navarro-Soria, 2021. "Implications of the Online Teaching Model Derived from the COVID-19 Lockdown Situation for Anxiety and Executive Functioning in Spanish Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Fei Qin & Yiqing Song & George P Nassis & Lina Zhao & Yanan Dong & Cuicui Zhao & Yiwei Feng & Jiexiu Zhao, 2020. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Well-Being during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Na-Hye Kim & Jung-Min Lee & Eunhye Yoo, 2022. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Adolescent Health: Physical Activity, Sleep, Obesity, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Xinqiao Liu & Yifan Zhang & Wenjuan Gao & Xiaojie Cao, 2023. "Developmental trajectories of depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: a piecewise growth mixture model analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Gina Voss & Andreia F. Paiva & Alice Delerue Matos, 2021. "A Study of the Association between the Stringency of Covid-19 Government Measures and Depression in Older Adults across Europe and Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    7. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    8. Andrea Alexander & Stephen Fung & Martin Eichler & Nadja Lehwald-Tywuschik & Vasuki Uthayakumar & Sami-Alexander Safi & Christian Vay & Hany Ashmawy & Sinan Kalmuk & Alexander Rehders & Sascha Vaghiri, 2022. "Quality of Life in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-10, March.
    9. José Pais-Ribeiro & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente & Margarida Jarego & Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & Jordi Miró, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Psychosocial and Health-Related Factors Associated with Psychological Discomfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    10. Alessandro Germani & Livia Buratta & Elisa Delvecchio & Claudia Mazzeschi, 2020. "Emerging Adults and COVID-19: The Role of Individualism-Collectivism on Perceived Risks and Psychological Maladjustment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
    11. Joanna Baj-Korpak & Kamil Zaworski & Ewa Szymczuk & Andrei Shpakou, 2022. "Physical Activity and Mental Health of Medical Students from Poland and Belarus-Countries with Different Restrictive Approaches during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Gülsen Erden & Asil Ali Özdoğru & Sami Çoksan & Hale Ögel-Balaban & Yakup Azak & İlkiz Altınoğlu-Dikmeer & Aysun Ergül-Topçu & Yeşim Yasak & Gözde Kıral-Uçar & Seda Oktay & Pelin Karaca-Dinç & Ezgi Di, 2022. "Social Contact, Academic Satisfaction, COVID-19 Knowledge, and Subjective Well-being Among Students at Turkish Universities: a Nine-University Sample," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2017-2039, August.
    13. Mevlut Okan Aydin & Guven Ozkaya & Ilker Mustafa Kafa & Shafiul Haque & Zuleyha Alper, 2023. "Hopelessness among Medical Students Caused Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Linked Educational Hiatus: A Case Study of Bursa Uludag University, Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    14. Gregory Knell & Michael C. Robertson & Erin E. Dooley & Katie Burford & Karla S. Mendez, 2020. "Health Behavior Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent “Stay-at-Home” Orders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Chunli Wei & Qingqing Li & Ziyi Lian & Yijun Luo & Shiqing Song & Hong Chen, 2022. "Variation in Public Trust, Perceived Societal Fairness, and Well-Being before and after COVID-19 Onset—Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    16. Edmond Pui Hang Choi & Bryant Pui Hung Hui & Eric Yuk Fai Wan & Jojo Yan Yan Kwok & Tiffany Hei Lam Tam & Chanchan Wu, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Community-Based Online Survey in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    17. Valerie Bauza & Gloria D. Sclar & Alokananda Bisoyi & Ajilé Owens & Apurva Ghugey & Thomas Clasen, 2021. "Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Odisha, India: Knowledge, Preventative Actions, and Impacts on Daily Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    18. Antonio José Sánchez-Guarnido & Nuria Hidalgo & Jorge Arenas de la Cruz & Inmaculada Esteban & Silvia Mondón & Carlos Herruzo, 2021. "Analysis of the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Severe Mental Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    19. Mohamed Mekhemar & Sameh Attia & Christof Dörfer & Jonas Conrad, 2021. "Dental Nurses’ Mental Health in Germany: A Nationwide Survey during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-18, July.
    20. Ana María Recio-Vivas & José Miguel Mansilla-Domíngez & Ángel Belzunegui-Eraso & David Peña-Otero & David Díaz-Pérez & Laura Lorenzo-Allegue & Isabel Font-Jiménez, 2022. "Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Measures in the Spanish Population during the New Normal: Will the Need for Greater Community Involvement Be One of the Lessons Learned?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:3:p:354-:d:1601728. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.