Mixed-methods analysis of the predictive effects of personality on stress-related eating behaviour: an exploratory study of perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control

Abstract

Most individuals alter overall caloric intake and food choice while experiencing stress and have a relatively consistent pattern of stress-related eating over time. There are many important and contextually dependant factors that should be considered when examining the effects of stress on eating behaviour changes including the recent investigation of the predominant role of personality; however, there is limited research examining the predictive role of personality to determine whether an individual will engage in stress over-eating or undereating behaviours. The present mixed-methods study investigated if personality traits of perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control were correlated with stress-over or undereating. Quantitative data was obtained among 169 participants who provided self-reports of individual levels of stress, stress-related eating, perfectionism, impulsivity, and emotional control to explore if there was a correlation between the investigated variables. The findings revealed significant direct predictive effects of emotional control on stress-related eating, however no significant effects were found between stress eating and traits of perfectionism or impulsivity. Qualitative data was obtained among 14 stress-over and under-eaters who were interviewed regarding their stress-eating styles and perceptions of the effect of personality on their stressrelated eating changes to further explore how individuals perceived their personality traits to drive their stress-over or under-eating behaviour. The findings revealed that stress over-eaters may respond by eating to seek control and positive emotions where under-eaters may not respond by eating as it is not a priority and they lack hunger. Future research should continue to investigate the included personality traits using more specific psychometric measures to analyze the variables more thoroughly before validating any conclusions.