The mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between emotion regulation and eating behaviors among women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of perceived social support in the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and eating behaviors in women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). A total of 728 women aged 18–45, recruited through online clinical forums, social media groups, and gynecology clinics in Turkey, participated in the study. Data were obtained using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form (DERS-16), and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ). Descriptive analyses revealed that the mean MSPSS score was 60.73 and the highest support was experienced in the family subscale. Correlation analyses showed positive and significant relationships between emotion regulation difficulties and eating behaviors. However, regression-based mediation analyses revealed that the indirect effect of perceived social support on the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and eating behaviors was not significant . In contrast, the direct effect of emotion regulation difficulties on eating behaviors was found to be significant . These findings indicate that perceived social support does not directly affect eating behaviors in women with PCOS, whereas emotion regulation difficulties are a determinant of unhealthy eating. The study highlights the importance of focusing clinical interventions on improving emotion regulation skills.