Emotional eating: the role of the evening and morning lateness, low sleep hygiene and anxiety

Abstract

Data on chronobiological traits, sleep self-assessment, emotional state and emotional eating from 555 female respondents with a mean age of 20.14 ± 2.12 (14.1% of the participants had an excess weight) by the online survey were collected. This study aimed to determine the association between morning and evening lateness (M, E, defined subjectively by Sleep–Wake Pattern Assessment Questionnaire) and reporting emotional eating behaviors. Multiple regression analysis showed that female students with higher emotional eating had more anxiety (β = 0.277; p < 0.001), a lower sleep hygiene (β = 0.274; p < 0.001), less difference between evening and morning lateness (β = 0.140; p < 0.002) and a higher BMI (β = 0.171; p < 0.001). Interventions and clinical programs should consider sleep hygiene, anxiety and morning lateness trait to help prevent dysfunctional eating behaviors.