The relationship between adult separation anxiety and emotional eating

The main objective of this study was to examine the correlation between separation anxiety and emotional eating. Another objective of this study was to compare the variables of adult separation anxiety and emotional eating in terms of sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Sample group was comprised of 482 participants aged 18-60 years located in İstanbul. The participants taking part within the study consisted of 346 women (71.8%) and 136 men (28.2%). Simple random sampling method was used in the process of the sample election of the participants. Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire and Sociodemographic Data Form were used during data collection process. The data were evaluated by using IBM SPSS program and p<0,05 value was taken for statistical significance. According to the cut-off score of Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire, 165 (34.2 %) out of the participants showed symptoms of adult separation anxiety. The prevalence of adult separation anxiety was higher statistically among females compared to males, among the ones aged 18-25 years compared to the other age groups and among singles compared to married individuals. As for the score of Emotional Eating subscales of the participants, females compared to males, singles compared to married individuals and the ones who attempted suicide compared to the other participants had significantly higher scores statistically. When the correlation coefficients between Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire total score and subscale scores of Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (emotional eating, external eating and restrained eating) were examined, statistically significant positive correlations in low-medium level between the subscale scores of Emotional and External Eating and total scores of Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire were observed. Notwithstanding that, the correlation found between Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire total score and Restrained Eating subscale score was statistically insignificant.