Understanding Emotional Eating through the lens of Alexithymia and Psychological Distress among Young Adults

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is a pivotal developmental stage wherein unresolved emotional difficulties often manifest in maladaptive behaviour patterns. Emotional eating has emerged as an ill-adjusted coping mechanism frequently associated with elevated psychological distress and deficits in emotional processing. Alexithymia, defined as the inability to identify and articulate emotions has been strongly implicated in such behavioural patterns. Psychological distress, a state of physical, mental, or emotional suffering experienced by an individual further exacerbates vulnerability to emotional eating. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of alexithymia and psychological distress on emotional eating among young adults. A sample of 50 young adults was collected in the age range of 18-27 years. Standardised tools were used to measure emotional eating, alexithymia and psychological distress. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between alexithymia and emotional eating. The results also state a significant positive correlation between psychological distress and emotional eating. Moreover, a positive correlation is also observed between alexithymia and psychological distress among young adults.