The relationship between emotion regulation skills and mindful eating and eating disorders

The study examined the relationship between emotion regulation skills and eating awareness with eating disorders. The socio-demographic variables of the participants and eating pathologies were assessed; findings related to the variables were addressed through Pearson correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way variance analysis (ANOVA), and hierarchical regression analyses. The sample of the study consisted of 352 participants aged 18-60 years. Data collection tools used in the study included the Personal Information Form, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire – Short Form (EDS– 16), Eating Awareness Scale (EAS– 30), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire – Short Form (EDE-Q-13). The total score of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was found to be significantly higher among female participants compared to male participants. A positive relationship was found between eating disorders and difficulties in emotion regulation, while a negative relationship was found between eating awareness and eating disorders. Additionally, it was observed that difficulties in emotion regulation significantly and positively predicted eating disorders, whereas eating awareness negatively and significantly predicted eating disorders. Eating awareness explained 15% of the variance in eating disorders. It was observed that research on eating disorders in the Turkish literature is quite limited. In particular, studies related to eating awareness, a new concept, are almost nonexistent. This thesis study is thought to fill the gap in the field by identifying factors related to the onset, maintenance, and treatment of eating disorders and strengthening prevention and intervention steps.