Development and evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based on Emotional Eating Reduction program

This study has two main objectives. The first is to develop the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER), and the second is to test the program's effect on emotional eating. During the development phase of the program, a needs analysis was conducted, and based on the results of this analysis, the program was created and tested twice using a Pretest-Posttest Control Group Experimental Design, with the first test being a pilot implementation. The research was designed according to the embedded design, one of the mixed research methods. In this design, qualitative data was collected before, during, and after the experimental process. This data collection method helps to understand the effects of the experimental procedure on participants, validate quantitative results, and better understand experimental outcomes. The research was conducted online with a total of 30 participants, randomly assigned into 15 experimental and 15 control groups, out of 135 participants who applied to reduce emotional eating behavior. In the research, the experimental group received the 'MB-EER' program developed by the researcher for 7 weeks, while no intervention was applied to the control group. Qualitative data in the study was collected through semi-structured forms created by the researcher, while quantitative data was collected using the Emotional Eating Scale, the Eating Awareness Scale, and the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire. Qualitative data analysis involved the use of content and descriptive analysis methods, while quantitative data analysis utilized T-tests and Mixed Design ANOVA tests, which were analysied the SPSS program. According to the findings of the research, the Mindfulness-Based Emotional Eating Reduction Program (MB-EER) was found to be effective in reducing emotional eating and emotional appetite, while increasing eating awareness. All these findings were discussed in light of the literature, and recommendations were made based on the results.