Relationship between Emotional Eating and Big Five Personality Characteristics and Mood Disorder Symptoms

Abstract

Some recent research indicates that eating behavior is related to emotions rather than physical hunger. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotionally triggered eating behavior and mood disorder symptoms and personality characteristics. The sample of the research consisted of 300 university students between 17-25 years old. The measurements are a socio-demographic, Emotional Appetite Questionnaire, Mood Disorder Questionnaire, and The Big Five Inventory. Data were analyzed performing T-Tests, correlation and regression analysis. Results indicated that there is a significant relationship between mood disorder symptoms, some of the emotional eating appetite sub-dimensions and some variables of Big Five personality traits of agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and extroversion personality. There was no relationship between mood disorders and emotional eating behaviors. Extroversion, openness, and conscientiousness were significant predictors of positive mood appetite, anxiety-based mood appetite, and dysphonic mood appetite.