Unhealthy eating and academic stress: The moderating effect of eating style and BMI

Daniela Caso; Capasso Miriam; Fabbricatore Rosa; Conner Mark

doi:10.1177/2055102920975274

Unhealthy eating and academic stress: The moderating effect of eating style and BMI

Health Psychol Open. 2020 Nov 30;7(2):2055102920975274. doi: 10.1177/2055102920975274. eCollection 2020 Jul-Dec.

Authors

Daniela Caso¹, Capasso Miriam¹, Fabbricatore Rosa¹, Conner Mark²

Affiliations

¹ University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
² University of Leeds, UK.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between stress and unhealthy eating among undergraduate students, considering the moderation effects of BMI, eating style, and nationality. A total of 748 Italian and French students completed self-report measures of academic stress, emotional eating, restrained eating, BMI, and unhealthy eating intake. Results showed that academic stress increased unhealthy food consumption in Italian students, whereas it reduced junk food consumption in French students. Negative emotional eating and BMI moderated, respectively, the impact of academic stress on sweet food intake and snacking. Finally, no clear support was found for the moderation role of restrained eating.

Keywords: BMI; eating behaviour; emotions; stress; students.