Body Image, Emotion Regulation Difficulty and Eating Attitudes in Adolescents by Separation-Individuation Level and Gender

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate body perception and emotion regulation difficulty factors determining eating attitudes of adolescents. As well, evaluate the impact of separation-individualization levels and gender on eating attitudes of adolescents. The participants were 424 adolescents between the ages of 18 and 22. The instruments used were the Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale, the Separation Individualization Scale, the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and the Body Image Scale. According to the findings, the level of separation-individuation is a determining factor in the eating attitude of adolescents, and body image predicted restrictive eating behavior in the group that does not develop pathology, and emotional eating behavior in the group with a high probability of developing pathology. In terms of gender it is found that emotional eating is explained by body image, openness, goals, strategies, and refusal in women who are more likely to show pathology. As for men with a high probability pathology, emotional eating behavior was predicted by just openness. The results were discussed in the light of related literature.