Affective state, emotional regulation and eating styles among adults in Chile

Eating behavior is intrinsically associated with the affective state and dominant emotions. This research set out to analyze the association between affectivity, anxious and depressive symptoms, emotional regulation, maladaptive eating styles, and intuitive eating. A cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. Participants were 648 adults of both sexes, residents of Chile. Data were collected on the following variables and instruments: dominant affect with the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS); emotional regulation difficulties, with Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS); eating styles with the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and intuitive eating with the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2). Correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression were performed. Being a woman and the presence of negative affect predicted emotional and restrictive eating styles. Positive affect was associated with an external eating style. The three maladaptive eating styles evaluated were associated with emotional regulation difficulties. On the contrary, intuitive eating was associated with being a man, positive affectivity, and the absence of emotional regulation difficulties. The association between emotional experience and eating styles was confirmed emphasizing the role of emotional regulation as a relevant psychological resource to prevent the potential dysfunctional effect of emotions on eating behavior.