The effect of COVID-19 fear and health anxiety on emotional eating behavior in adult individuals

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of fear of COVID-19 and health anxiety on emotional eating behavior in adults. The study is cross-sectional. The relational survey model was used and it is a descriptive study. The sample was created between March 2021 and May 2021. As data collection tools; Socio-Demographic Information Form, Coronavirus Information Form, Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S), Health Anxiety Scale (HAC), and Turkish Emotional Eating Scale (TEES) were used. 803 volunteer participants residing in Izmit district of Kocaeli province and whose informed consent was obtained were included in the study. When the differences between the scale scores according to the socio-demographic variables of the individuals are examined, the C19P-S scores of the adult individuals are determined according to the gender, marital status, seeing oneself as overweight, the increase in eating behavior at home during the pandemic process, and the frequency of following the information about the coronavirus. According to the SAC scores of adults according to gender, age, increase in eating behavior at home during the pandemic process, psychiatric disorder and chronic disease, TESS scores of adults are based on gender, age, marital status, BMI, and self-observation of overweight. It was found that there is a statistically significant difference according to the frequency of following the information about the increase in eating behavior at home, psychiatric illness and coronavirus during the pandemic process. The relationship between the scales and sub-dimensions was examined, and statistically significant correlations were found between the adults' C19P-S scores and SAC scores, between TEES scores and SAC scores, and between C19P-S scores and TEES scores. As a result of examining the effects of C19P-S scores and SAC scores on TEES scores, it was found that all sub-dimensions and total scores of C19P-S and SAC had a statistically significant effect on TEES scores. It is thought that the findings of this study will contribute significantly to the relevant literature.