Volume 20, Issue 8 (11-2021)
JRUMS 2021, 20(8): 891-904 |
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Asadi-Rajani M, Kachooei M, Ahmadbeygi Z, Vahidi E. The Relationship between Alexithymia and Unhealthy Eating Behaviors in Female Students of Tehran Universities in 2019: A Descriptive Study. JRUMS 2021; 20 (8) :891-904
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-6029-en.html
URL: http://journal.rums.ac.ir/article-1-6029-en.html
science and culture university
Abstract: (1247 Views)
Background and Objectives: Due to the increasing prevalence of disordered eating in young women, it is one of the significant issues in psychopathology. Alexithymia plays an important role in unhealthy eating behaviors, but how mood problems lead to unhealthy eating behaviors remains unanswered. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors and the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors.
Materials and Methods: The research method is descriptive and structural equations modelling. The statistical population was all female students from universities of Science and Culture, Shahid Beheshti, Alzahra, Allame Tabatabaei in Tehran in 2019, from which 350 students were selected by convenience sampling and completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Scale (DEBQ), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and path analysis.
Results: Psychological distress was positively associated with alexithymia (r=0.44, p<0.001), external eating behaviors (r=0.28, p<0.001), and emotional eating behaviors (r=0.22, p<0.001). In addition, results of path analysis showed that psychological distress mediated the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors.
Conclusion: Considering the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors, using strategies to promote understanding and expressing emotions and reduce psychological distress is recommended. These strategies can be helpful in improving mental health and preventing unhealthy eating behaviors.
Key words: Feeding behavior, Affective symptoms, Psychological distress, Female students, Tehran
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Royan Institute approved the study (IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1398.230).
How to cite this article: Asadi-Rajani M, Kachooei M, Ahmadbeygi Z, Vahidi E. The Relationship between Alexithymia and Unhealthy Eating Behaviors in Female Students of Tehran Universities in 2019: A Descriptive Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2021; 20 (8): 891-904. [Farsi]
Materials and Methods: The research method is descriptive and structural equations modelling. The statistical population was all female students from universities of Science and Culture, Shahid Beheshti, Alzahra, Allame Tabatabaei in Tehran in 2019, from which 350 students were selected by convenience sampling and completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Scale (DEBQ), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and path analysis.
Results: Psychological distress was positively associated with alexithymia (r=0.44, p<0.001), external eating behaviors (r=0.28, p<0.001), and emotional eating behaviors (r=0.22, p<0.001). In addition, results of path analysis showed that psychological distress mediated the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors.
Conclusion: Considering the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between alexithymia and unhealthy eating behaviors, using strategies to promote understanding and expressing emotions and reduce psychological distress is recommended. These strategies can be helpful in improving mental health and preventing unhealthy eating behaviors.
Key words: Feeding behavior, Affective symptoms, Psychological distress, Female students, Tehran
Funding: This study did not have any funds.
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Royan Institute approved the study (IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1398.230).
How to cite this article: Asadi-Rajani M, Kachooei M, Ahmadbeygi Z, Vahidi E. The Relationship between Alexithymia and Unhealthy Eating Behaviors in Female Students of Tehran Universities in 2019: A Descriptive Study. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2021; 20 (8): 891-904. [Farsi]
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
روانپزشكي
Received: 2021/05/30 | Accepted: 2021/08/27 | Published: 2021/11/19
Received: 2021/05/30 | Accepted: 2021/08/27 | Published: 2021/11/19
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