Mixed-methods analysis of the predictive effects of personality on stress-related eating behaviour: an exploratory study of perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control
Date
2022-11-11
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Abstract
Most individuals alter overall caloric intake and food choice while experiencing stress
and have a relatively consistent pattern of stress-related eating over time. There are many
important and contextually dependant factors that should be considered when examining the
effects of stress on eating behaviour changes including the recent investigation of the
predominant role of personality; however, there is limited research examining the predictive role
of personality to determine whether an individual will engage in stress over-eating or undereating behaviours. The present mixed-methods study investigated if personality traits of
perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control were correlated with stress-over or undereating. Quantitative data was obtained among 169 participants who provided self-reports of
individual levels of stress, stress-related eating, perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control
to explore if there was a correlation between the investigated variables. The findings revealed
significant direct predictive effects of emotional control on stress-related eating, however no
significant effects were found between stress eating and traits of perfectionism or impulsivity.
Qualitative data was obtained among 14 stress-over and under-eaters who were interviewed
regarding their stress-eating styles and perceptions of the effect of personality on their stressrelated eating changes to further explore how individuals perceived their personality traits to
drive their stress-over or under-eating behaviour. The findings revealed that stress over-eaters
may respond by eating to seek control and positive emotions where under-eaters may not
respond by eating as it is not a priority and they lack hunger. Future research should continue to
investigate the included personality traits using more specific psychometric measures to analyze
the variables more thoroughly before validating any conclusions.
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Keywords
Stress eating, perfectionism, impulsivity, emotional control, mixed methods