Sex Differences in Perceived Stress and Emotional Eating Patterns Among College Students

This study examined sex differences in perceived stress and emotional eating behaviors among college students (N = 283; 164 males, 119 females; Mean age = 20.82 years, SD = 3.29). Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), and Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ). Analysis of variance revealed significant sex differences in several key measures. Female students reported higher levels of perceived stress (M = 20.19, SD = 5.58) compared to male students (M = 17.50, SD = 6.39; p = .001). Regarding eating behaviors, females scored significantly higher on emotional eating (TFEQ-emotional: M = 2.43, SD = 2.55 vs. M = 1.18, SD = 1.60; p < .001) and cognitive restraint (TFEQ-cognitive: M = 9.76, SD = 4.17 vs. M = 8.69, SD = 3.54; p = .041). Females also demonstrated higher disinhibition in mindful eating (MEQ-disinhibition: M = 2.82, SD = 0.53 vs. M = 2.63, SD = 0.58; p = .009) and more frequent weight monitoring (p < .001). These findings suggest important sex differences in stress perception and eating behaviors among college students, with females showing greater vulnerability to stress and emotional eating patterns. These results may inform targeted interventions for managing stress and eating behaviors in college populations.