PD463 - THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FOOD CRAVING IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FUTURE ANXIETY AND DISORDERED EATING AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

PD463

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FOOD CRAVING IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FUTURE ANXIETY AND DISORDERED EATING AMONG YOUNG ADULTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

E. ELİBOL^1,*, H. B. DOĞRU¹

¹Nutrition and Dietetic, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: Future anxiety can significantly disrupt eating habits by negatively affecting individuals' cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral processes. This study aims to examine the mediating role of food craving in the effect of future anxiety on disordered eating among young adults. 

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 502 young adults (392 female, 110 male). Individuals with a psychiatrically diagnosed condition were excluded from the study. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and the Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.10±1.46 years. According to the Beck Hopelessness Scale, 26.5% were hopeful, 40.8% mildly hopeless, 25.5% moderately hopeless, and 7.2% severely hopeless. Obese individuals had significantly higher EDE-Q and FCQ scores compared to normal weight and underweight individuals (p<0.05). Participants with EDE-Q scores of 4 and above had significantly higher BHS, EDE-Q, and FCQ scores than those scoring below 4. Participants with moderate and severe hopelessness had significantly higher EDE-Q and FCQ scores compared to hopeful participants (p<0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between BHS, EDE-Q, and FCQ scores.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that future anxiety may play a significant role in the development of disordered eating behaviors among young adults, with food craving acting as a potential mediating pathway.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared