Investigation of the relationship between depression and eating disorder in individuals working in the catering industry

The relationship between depression and eating disorders has been a subject of ongoing discussion among researchers and clinicians. The link between psychopathological features and eating disorders has found substantial space in international literature. Historically, the initial definition of depression was formulated by Hippocrates (5th century BCE). Alongside Hippocrates' definition of depression, emerged the concept of Melancholia, attributed to an excess of black bile. Galen, who conducted research in this field, defined melancholia as 'disgust with people.' Additionally, Galen is recognized as the first to mention the existence of sadness, sorrow, and distress (Atak, 2022). Following Galen's description, depression has been characterized as a mood disorder where individuals constantly experience feelings of unhappiness, sorrow, and fatigue, lacking the same pleasure in social activities as before, indicating persistent fatigue and exhaustion throughout the day (Uysal, 2018). This thesis aims to examine the relationship between eating disorders and depression among individuals working in the catering sector. Furthermore, the study will investigate potential differences in depression and eating disorders based on socio-demographic variables in their social and work lives. The research has been prepared following a descriptive study method, employing face-to-face interviews for data collection purposes. The chosen method seeks to deeply investigate and understand the complexities surrounding depression and eating disorders within the catering workforce. Information from the gathered scales was inputted manually into the SPSS-22 software to conduct analysis. The interconnections among dimensions defining the employees' scale levels were scrutinized using techniques like Pearson correlation and linear regression. Furthermore, differences between groups were examined through statistical means such as Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way ANOVA, and additional post hoc analyses (Tukey, LSD). This comprehensive approach aims to provide a thorough comprehension of the dynamics related to depression and eating disorders in individuals employed in the catering sector.According to the results of the study, a significant positive correlation was detected between the dependent variables, BDI and SEDÖ, and other independent variables such as gender, age, marital status, and education were found to affect the interaction between eating disorders and depression. In this context, firstly, guidance and support from health professionals is important. Secondarily, healthy lifestyle habits such as a balanced diet, regular exercise and stress management can be effective in the management of these conditions. In addition, joining support groups and providing emotional support can also help in this process. Finally, understanding one's own thoughts and feelings can play an important role in the therapeutic process.