The effects of stress on eating patterns and the effects of stress and attachment on eating behaviour and food preference in stress under-eaters and stress-eaters

Abstract

This article-based thesis examined the effects of stress and attachment style on eating. The first article explored the effects of stress on the eating patterns of undergraduate students. Results demonstrated that stress leads to reported unhealthy changes in eating habits. Specifically, stress led to increased reported preference for take-out food options. Findings showed that gender influenced stress-related snacking and loss of control over eating. The second article examined the influences of stress and attachment on eating in self-reported stress under-eaters and stress-eaters. The results demonstrated that attachment style uniquely influences the eating of these two distinct groups and that stress and attachment have differential effects on eating. These findings add to the paucity of research investigating the effects of stress on eating from a naturalistic approach. These results also identify various idiosyncrasies of these two novel groups and highlight the role of attachment in disordered eating behaviour.