Keywords
early adulthood
self-esteem
emotional regulation
anxiety
stress
prevention
How to Cite
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive theoretical and empirical study of the psychological characteristics of eating behavior among individuals aged 18–25. The period of early adulthood is substantiated as a critical stage for the stabilization of long-term eating patterns that determine attitudes toward the body, food, self-regulation, and physical health. The study analyzes individual-psychological factors (self-esteem, perfectionism, impostor syndrome), emotional factors (anxiety, emotional lability, stress), and socio-psychological factors (media influence, gender stereotypes, social comparison) that contribute to the emergence and consolidation of disordered eating behaviors.
The theoretical analysis draws on a systemic approach to understanding eating behavior (Fairburn, 2008; Baieva, 2023), cognitive-behavioral models (Polivy & Herman, 2002), and recent national studies (Absaliamova, 2019; Arseniuk & Naichuk, 2024; Biloribka, 2024). Four primary types of eating behavior were identified: emotional (35%), external (30%), restrictive (25%), and intuitive (10%). The emotional type is associated with the use of food as a mechanism for reducing emotional tension; the external type—with the influence of external stimuli (appearance and smell of food, social context); the restrictive type—with rigid self-control and fear of losing weight-related control; the intuitive type—with reliance on internal hunger and satiety cues.
The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 74 students (48 women, 26 men) using standardized instruments: the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and Student’s t-test (SPSS).
The results revealed statistically significant correlations: the emotional type was associated with anxiety (r = 0.72**, p ≤ .01) and low self-esteem (r = –0.58**, p ≤ .01); the restrictive type—with perfectionism (r = 0.65**, p ≤ .01) and impostor syndrome (r = 0.49**, p ≤ .01); the external type—with low autonomy (r = –0.52**, p ≤ .01). Gender differences were identified: women predominantly exhibited emotional and restrictive types, while men demonstrated the external type, consistent with the findings of Arseniuk & Naichuk (2024).
A comprehensive approach is proposed for supporting individuals in early adulthood in the domain of eating behavior, integrating psychoeducational, diagnostic, and corrective-training interventions. The findings have practical implications for psychological counseling, educational programs, and promoting healthy lifestyle practices among youth. Future research directions include longitudinal monitoring of eating behavior dynamics in early adulthood, in-depth exploration of gender differences in eating patterns, and the development and testing of prevention programs.
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