Evaluation of the relationship between dietary self-efficacy belief, food craving and mindful eating of adult women

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between adult women's dietary self-efficacy beliefs, food cravings and mindful eating. The study was conducted with 167 adult women aged 19-64 years who applied to a private center in Eskisehir between September 2022 and January 2023. The questionnaire form prepared for the individuals who volunteered to participate in the study was filled out by face-to-face interview technique. The questionnaire consisted of a form including descriptive information, health status and lifestyle, diet history, eating habits and anthropometric measurements, Dietary Self-Efficacy Belief Scale, Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ) and Mindful Eating Questionnare-30 (MEQ-30). According to body mass index (BMI) classification, 47.3% of individuals were normal, 29.9% were overweight and 22.8% were obese. A statistically significant difference was found between the mean scores of dietary self-efficacy belief scale, FCQ and MEQ-30 total scores of individuals in different BMI groups (p<0.05). The mean total scores of the dietary self-efficacy belief scale, FCQ and MEQ-30 were determined as 118.2±26.00, 113.4±42.63 and 3.3±0.58, respectively. According to BMI classification, 24.1% of individuals with normal BMI, 42% of individuals with overweight and 63.2% of obese individuals were found to have low dietary self-efficacy. A significant negative correlation was found between the total scores of dietary self-efficacy beliefs scale and the total scores of the FCQ (p<0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between the total scores of the individuals' FCQ and MEQ-30 total scores (p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the total scores of dietary self-efficacy beliefs scale and the total scores of the MEQ-30 (p<0.05). According to the data obtained from the analysis, it was observed that as individuals' mindful eating increases, their food cravings decrease and their dietary self-efficacy beliefs increase. However, it was determined that individuals' dietary self-efficacy beliefs increased as their food cravings decreased. As individuals' BMI values increases, their food cravings increase, while their mindful eating and dietary self-efficacy beliefs decrease. This study reveals that potential factors that may affect dietary adherence should be questioned before starting a diet program that an individual should follow.