PD587 - EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, AND EATING BEHAVIORS IN ADULTS

PD587

EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LONELINESS, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, AND EATING BEHAVIORS IN ADULTS

N. ERZURUM ALİM¹, K. ÖZBAY¹, Ö. P. TÜRK^1,*

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Türkiye

Rationale: Loneliness is considered an important factor in mental health and nutrition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between levels of loneliness (social and emotional), nutritional status, and eating behaviors in adults.

Methods: The study population consisted of individuals aged ≥18 years residing in Ankara, Türkiye. Sociodemographic characteristics and dietary habits were recorded using a general information questionnaire. Loneliness was assessed using the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults, and eating behaviors were evaluated using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed via 24-hour dietary recalls, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0

Results: Of the participants, 90 (56.3%) were female and 70 (43.7%) were male, with a mean age of 28.81±8.05 years (18–51). Social loneliness differed significantly according to gender, age, marital status, education level, income status, meal skipping, and alcohol consumption (p<0.05). Emotional loneliness differed significantly according to gender, marital status, place of residence, meal skipping, eating out frequency, meals consumed outside, waking up at night to eat, snack consumption, and alcohol consumption (p<0.05). Social loneliness was positively associated with BMI (r =.253, p=.001), with no association with energy or macronutrient intake. Emotional loneliness was positively associated with carbohydrate intake (r =.276, p<.001) and negatively with lipid intake (r=−.233, p =.003), with no association with BMI, energy, or protein intake. Additionally, emotional loneliness was positively associated with uncontrolled eating (r =.292, p <.001) and cognitive restraint (r =.176, p =.026).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that social and emotional loneliness may play a role in shaping eating behaviors and dietary patterns in adults.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared