Assessment of Emotional Eating and Food Behaviour among College Students: Patterns, Awareness and Coping Strategies

Emotional eating (EE) refers to the tendency to consume food in response to emotional states rather than physiological hunger and has gained growing attention in the fields of nutrition, psychology and public health. This study aimed to assess emotional eating patterns, food preferences, levels of awareness, feelings of guilt, emotional triggers and coping strategies among college students. A total of 331 students were evaluated using the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ), along with additional assessment measures. The findings indicated that emotional eating behaviour was significantly influenced by gender, lifestyle and emotional state. Most participants reported a decrease in appetite during negative emotional states such as fear, sadness and stress; however, boredom emerged as a distinct factor associated with increased food intake. Positive emotions, including happiness and celebratory occasions, were linked to a higher preference for energy-dense, palatable foods, particularly sweets and fried snacks. Female students demonstrated a stronger inclination towards consuming sweets during both positive and negative emotional experiences, while male students exhibited higher negative EMAQ scores. Fried food consumption showed a positive correlation with negative emotional eating. Awareness of emotional eating varied across participants, with many students remaining unaware of their emotion-driven eating behaviours. Feelings of guilt were commonly associated with concerns related to body image and fear of weight gain. Frequently reported coping strategies included listening to music, sleeping, engaging with social media and socialising with peers. Overall, the study highlights that emotional eating among college students is shaped by a complex interplay of personal, social and environmental factors. The findings emphasise the need for awareness programmes, mindfulness-based training and campus-level interventions to promote healthier coping strategies and balanced dietary behaviours among young adults.