Comparison of perceived stress, intuitive eating, body image perception, and nutrition status in employed and unemployed women

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparison of perceived stress, intuitive eating, body image, and nutritional status between working and non-working women. The study was carried out between June 2 and September 25 at the Nutrition and Dietetics Outpatient Clinic of Private Istanbul Cerrahi Hospital with 124 women who applied to the clinic. The participants were divided into two groups: 62 working women and 62 non-working women. The inclusion criteria were being a female adult between the ages of 18–65 and volunteering to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria included individuals with cognitive impairments that could affect their ability to respond to the study questions and individuals with a history of major psychiatric disorders. Data collection tools included a General Information Form prepared by the researcher, a 24-Hour Dietary Recall Form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), and the Body Image Scale (BIS). According to the evaluated data, the mean age of the participants was found to be 34.69 ± 10.87 years, consistent with the literature. The overall Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated as 25.28 ± 4.72 kg/m². Based on the responses to the Body Image Scale, no statistically significant difference was found between working and non-working women. Although the mean Perceived Stress Scale score of working women (37.87 ± 5.91) was lower than that of non-working women (39.11 ± 6.00), this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Among non-working women, a positive, weak, and statistically significant relationship was found between body image and intuitive eating levels (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant relationship was found between body image and intuitive eating levels among working women (p > 0.05).