Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z

Generation Z faces increasing mental health challenges, often leading to maladaptive coping strategies, such as emotional eating and using food to manage negative emotions. This behavior contributes to poor dietary patterns and a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases. Despite rising concerns, the...

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Main Authors: Omi Haryati, Laelatun Nurul Hidayah, Nurhalimah Nurhalimah, Yuli Mulyanti, Indriana Rakhmawati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Healthcare in Low-resource Settings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pagepressjournals.org/hls/article/view/13121
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author Omi Haryati
Laelatun Nurul Hidayah
Nurhalimah Nurhalimah
Yuli Mulyanti
Indriana Rakhmawati
author_facet Omi Haryati
Laelatun Nurul Hidayah
Nurhalimah Nurhalimah
Yuli Mulyanti
Indriana Rakhmawati
author_sort Omi Haryati
collection DOAJ
description Generation Z faces increasing mental health challenges, often leading to maladaptive coping strategies, such as emotional eating and using food to manage negative emotions. This behavior contributes to poor dietary patterns and a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases. Despite rising concerns, the psychological determinants of emotional eating among Indonesian youth remain underexplored. This study aimed to examine psychological factors associated with emotional eating in Generation Z. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 110 Generation Z individuals aged 12–27 years who exhibited a tendency toward emotional eating. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. Three instruments were used for data collection: a demographic questionnaire, psychological factors questionnaire, and Emotional Eater Questionnaire. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests for bivariate associations and binary logistic regression for multivariate analysis, to identify the most influential psychological predictors of emotional eating. Anger, boredom, anxiety, stress, and depression were significantly associated with emotional eating (p < 0.05). Stress and boredom are the most influential predictors. Stress and boredom are the key psychological drivers of emotional eating in Generation Z. This maladaptive behavior increases the risk of disordered eating and non-communicable diseases. Interventions that enhance emotional regulation and stress management are crucial to mitigate these risks.
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issn 2281-7824
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series Healthcare in Low-resource Settings
spelling doaj-art-dffbba1e842e4bb5ac7123f779427e922025-08-23T13:23:40ZengPAGEPress PublicationsHealthcare in Low-resource Settings2281-78242025-08-0110.4081/hls.2025.13121Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z Omi Haryati0Laelatun Nurul Hidayah1Nurhalimah Nurhalimah2Yuli Mulyanti3Indriana Rakhmawati4Health Polytechnic Ministry of Health Jakarta IIIHealth Polytechnic Ministry of Health Jakarta IIIHealth Polytechnic Ministry of Health Jakarta IIIHealth Polytechnic Ministry of Health Jakarta IIIHealth Polytechnic Ministry of Health Jakarta III Generation Z faces increasing mental health challenges, often leading to maladaptive coping strategies, such as emotional eating and using food to manage negative emotions. This behavior contributes to poor dietary patterns and a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases. Despite rising concerns, the psychological determinants of emotional eating among Indonesian youth remain underexplored. This study aimed to examine psychological factors associated with emotional eating in Generation Z. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 110 Generation Z individuals aged 12–27 years who exhibited a tendency toward emotional eating. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. Three instruments were used for data collection: a demographic questionnaire, psychological factors questionnaire, and Emotional Eater Questionnaire. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests for bivariate associations and binary logistic regression for multivariate analysis, to identify the most influential psychological predictors of emotional eating. Anger, boredom, anxiety, stress, and depression were significantly associated with emotional eating (p < 0.05). Stress and boredom are the most influential predictors. Stress and boredom are the key psychological drivers of emotional eating in Generation Z. This maladaptive behavior increases the risk of disordered eating and non-communicable diseases. Interventions that enhance emotional regulation and stress management are crucial to mitigate these risks. https://www.pagepressjournals.org/hls/article/view/13121Emotional eatingGeneration Zpsychological factors
spellingShingle Omi Haryati
Laelatun Nurul Hidayah
Nurhalimah Nurhalimah
Yuli Mulyanti
Indriana Rakhmawati
Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
Healthcare in Low-resource Settings
Emotional eating
Generation Z
psychological factors
title Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
title_full Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
title_fullStr Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
title_full_unstemmed Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
title_short Determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in Generation Z
title_sort determinant factors that influence emotional eating behavior in generation z
topic Emotional eating
Generation Z
psychological factors
url https://www.pagepressjournals.org/hls/article/view/13121
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AT yulimulyanti determinantfactorsthatinfluenceemotionaleatingbehavioringenerationz
AT indrianarakhmawati determinantfactorsthatinfluenceemotionaleatingbehavioringenerationz