Emotional Eating, BMI,
GPA, and Student
Retention
Joanne Haeffele, PhD,
Patricia Braun, DNSc,
Sarah Blackstone, BPhil
Introduction
O Measures of academic success
O GPA
O Retention
O US Census Bureau estimates
O 43% students do not graduate in six years
O Nationwide retention rate is 75%
Introduction
O Illinois retention rate – 59.4% (after 4
years)
O NIU retention – overall 73.2%
O NIU graduation rates 48% (6 years)
Introduction
O Predictive variables
O Socioeconomic
Demographic
O Gender
O Parents’ education p<.05
O High school GPA
O Recent research suggesting emotional and
social factors play a role
Pritchard & Wilson, 2003
Stress
Introduction
O Emotional eating
O Tendency to eat in response to negative
emotions
O Higher prevalence of:
O Depression
O Negative affect
O Neuroticism
O Depression, negative affect and neuroticism
related to lower GPA
Van Strien et al. 2007; Jansen et al. 2008; van Strien et al. 2012; Ouwens,
van Strien, & van Leeuwe, 2009
Current Aims
O Investigate relationship between emotional
eating, BMI, GPA and later college retention
O Analyze three factors of emotional eating
(indicated by EADES questionnaire)
O Emotion and stress related eating
O Appraisal of ability and resources to cope
O Appraisal of outside stressors
Susan
A 22-year old obese female student reported
to the school counselor that she engaged in
episodes of binge eating up to five times per
week. She reported a lack of control and that
she would consume up to 6,000 calories in
one episode Her binge episodes were typically
preceded by intense emotions and food intake
was her way of coping with the emotions and
distress. Midterm and final exam times were
especially distressing.
Macht & Simons, 2011
Theories
Psychosomatic
Emotional Eating Theory
Adriaanse et al., 2011; Macht & Simons, 2011; Slochower,
1983; Booth, 1994
Emotional Eating
O Often symptomatic of entrenched
unresolved psychological issues
O Habits range from snatching a candy bar to
compulsive binging
O May not consciously realize quality and
quantity of food consumed
O Described a lapse of consciousness
state (Adam & Epel, 2007)
Emotional Eating
O Can be brought on by restrained eating
O intentionally control or restrict food intake to
maintain or lose weight
O Normally high control over food intake
O Control pattern interrupted in times of stress
O Display patterns of emotional eating when
stressed
Macht, 2008
Negative Affect
O Increased tendency to cope with negative
emotions using food
O Induced eating
O Associated with an elevated BMI
O Food intake higher
O Greater food consumption (Fay & Finlasion,
2011)
Epel, Lapidus, McEwen, & Brownell, 2001; Chua,
Touyz, & Hill, 2004
Stress and Eating
O Stress and anxiety associated with
O High consumption of snack foods
O Lower consumption of meal type foods
O Emotional eater overeat when stressed
food consumption reduces stress
Heatherton & Baumeister, 1991; Wallis & Hetherington,
2004, 2008
Links to GPA and Retention
O Emotional eating related to
O Anxiety
O Negative Affect
O Depression
O Depression and anxiety have been related to
lower academic performance
Hysenbegasi, Hass, & Rowland, 2005; DeRoman, Leach, & Leverett,
2009; Ahmad & Rana, 2009
Links to GPA and Retention
O Hysenbegasi, Hass, & Rowland (2005):
Depression associated with .49 decrease in
GPA
O Ahmad & Rana, 2009: Neuroticism
associated with lower GPA
O Measured by:
O Negative reactivity to daily events
O Experience of subjective distress
O Inability to cope
Present Study
O Purpose: investigate the relationship
between academic performance (GPA and
retention), BMI and emotional eating
O Relevance: Depression and anxiety (two
characteristics associated with emotional
eating) are linked to poorer academic
performance
O
Depression and anxiety are conditions
experienced by current university students
Data Collection
O Participants
O 155 students from NIU
O Ages 18-65
O Recruited via:
O E-mail announcement
O Flyers
O Classroom announcements
O Incentives: none initially
O Course credit
Data Collection
O Eating and Appraisal Due to Emotions and
Stress (EADES) Questionnaire
O Validated with internal consistency (see, Ozier,
Kendrick, Knol, Lepper, Perko, & Burnham, 2008)
O Three subscales
O Emotion and Stress Related Eating (F1)
O Appraisal and Ability of Resources to Cope (F2)
O Appraisal of Outside Stressors and Influences (F3)
O Demographic questionnaire
Data Procedure
O Procedure
O Participants given EADES questionnaire in an
office in the School of Nursing
O Research assistant measured height and
weight
O Collected transcripts in sealed envelope
O Student ID given for retention purposes
Data Collection
O Problems
O Data from 4 participants were not used
O 1 did not finish the questionnaire; 3 did not
provide a transcript
O Recruitment
O Incentives
Year in College
Ethnicity
Weight Category
Data Collection
O EADES questionnaire - 49 questions Likert
scale
O
O
O
O
O
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly Agree
O 24 questions measured F1
O 20 questions measured F2
O 05 questions measured F3
O Total scores range from 44-220
EADES QUESTIONAIRE
O ..\Documents\m_perko_eating_2006.pdf
ANALYSIS &RESULTS
Study Hypotheses
O H1: GPA will differ based on weight category
O H2: GPA will be predicted by level of emotional
eating based on each of the three EADES factors
O H3, GPA will be predicted by level of emotional
eating based on total EADES scores above or
below the median
Statistical Analysis
O H1: GPA will differ based on weight category
O ANOVA was used to test this hypothesis.
O Weight Category
O Group 1 = normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.99)
O Group 2 = overweight (BMI: 25-29.99)
O Group 3 = obese (BMI ≥ 30)
Statistical Analysis
O H2: GPA will be predicted by level of emotional
eating based on each of the three EADES
instrument factors
O A multiple regression analysis was used to test
this hypothesis, controlling for age, race, year in
school, and gender.
Statistical Analysis
O H3: GPA will be predicted by level of emotional eating
based on total EADES scores above or below the
median.
O Weight category (BMI), and age were controlled for in
the analysis.
O Levels of emotional eating
O Group 1 = EADES score below median (160) lower
score – emotional eating
O Group 2 = EADES score above median
Results
Measurement
Mean
Standard
Deviation
Height
65.05 in.
2.89 in.
Weight
154.77 lbs.
35.32 lbs.
BMI
25.62
5.19
Age
25.84
7.86
Results
Measure
Mean
Standard
Deviation
EADES Score
160.04
23.99
GPA
3.53
.364
*EADES score range: 44-220
EADES QUESTIONAIRE
O ..\Documents\m_perko_eating_2006.pdf
Results
Factor
Mean
1) Emotions and stress 80.4
related eating
Standard
Deviation
17.67
Range (24-120)
2) Appraisal and ability 78.81
of resources to cope
Range (20-100)
8.29
Results
Category
N
Mean GPA
BMI
Age
Emotional
Eating
76
3.56 (.37)
27.48
(5.73)
26.33
(7.86)
NonEmotional
Eating
79
3.50 (.36)
23.84
(3.89)
26.09
(6.78)
Total
155
3.53
(.364)
25.62
(5.19)
25.84
(7.86)
Total score and GPA not significant
*Standard deviation in parentheses ()
Results
O H1, that GPA would differ based on weight
category, was not supported
O H2, that level of emotional eating based on scores
for each of the EADES factors would predict GPA,
was not supported
O H3, that GPA would be predicted by level of
emotional eating based on total EADES scores
above or below the median, was not supported.
Conclusions/What We
Learned
O GPA did not differ based on overall levels of
emotional eating as measured by total
EADES scores in this sample of students
O Emotion and stress related eating (Factor 1)
was a predictor of BMI. That is, lower levels
of emotion and stress related eating
predicted higher BMIs.
Conclusions
O Contradict previous studies
O BMI and GPA
O Race and GPA
O Emotional eating may not be a significant
predictor of GPA
O Emotion and stress related eating is an
important predictor of BMI
Limitations
O Biased sample
O Using a larger more diverse sample from
the university may yield different results
Further Research
O Larger samples of more diversified students
from other universities to further
demonstrate results and understand the
prevalence and relationship of emotional
eating
O Retention data of students in this study has
not been completed. We will continue to
measure retention each semester for
student participants according to grade level
Recommendations
O Relationship to BMI may be important for
preventing obesity
Provide early interventions to prevent
onset of emotional eating/ impact on
BMI particularly for emotion and stress
related eaters
Recommendations
O Educate nurse practitioners/Health care
professionals to identify underlying
symptoms (depression, anxiety) of emotional
eating
O Provide education to university students to
recognize signs and symptoms of emotional
eating and their precursors
Discussion
O Do you have times when you exhibit
emotional eating tendencies?
O If yes, describe a scenario that might occur
before the eating occurs.
Discussion
O What has your experience been with
students and emotional eating ?
O How much do you think that emotions affect
a student’s ability to succeed?
Discussion
O Can you share an example where one of
your students’ emotions impacted their
education?
Discussion
O What other factors do you think may be
related to emotional eating in students?
Discussion
O Are students within your college educated
on emotional eating and or eating
disorders?
O If yes, where in the curriculum?
Brainstorming
O What type of intervention would you
recommend to a student with emotional
eating ?
O Do you think POSITIVE emotions lead to
emotional eating?
References
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
56,
O
Adam T, Epel, E. (2007). Stress, eating and the reward system. Physiology and Behavior, 91,
449-458.
Adriaanse, M. A., de Ridder, D. T. D., & Evers, C. (2011). Emotional eating: Eating when
emotional or emotional about eating?. Psychology and Health, 26(1), 23-39.
Ahmad, I., & Rana, S. (2012). Affectivity, achievement motivation, and academic performance
in college students. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 27(1), 107-120.
Canetti, L., Bachar, E., & Berry, E. M. (2002). Food and emotion. Behavioural processes, 60(2),
157-164.
Chua, J. L., Touyz, S., & Hill, A. J. (2004). Negative mood-induced overeating in obese binge
eaters: an experimental study. International Journal of Obesity,28(4), 606-610.
DeRoma, V. M., Leach, J. B., & Leverette, J. P. (2009). The relationship between depression and
college academic performance. College Student Journal, 43(2), 325-334.
Epel, E., Lapidus, R., McEwen, B., & Brownell, K. (2001). Stress may add bite to appetite in
women:
a laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating
behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26(1), 37-49.
Fay, H. S., & Finlayson, G. (2011). Negative affect-induced food intake in non-dieting women is
reward driven and associated with restrained-disinhibited eating subtype. Appetite,
682-688.
Heatherton, T. F., & Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Binge eating as an escape from self-awareness.
Psychology Bulletin, 110(1), 86-108.
References
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Hepworth, R., Mogg, K., Brignell, C., & Bradley, B. P. (2010). Negative mood increases
selective attention to food cues and subjective appetite. Appetite, 54, 134-142.
Hysenbegasi, A., Hass, S. L., & Rowland, C. R. (2005). The impact of depression on the
academic productivity of university students. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and
Economics, 8, 145-151.
Jansen, A., Vanreyten, A., van Balveren, T., Roefs, A., Nederkoorn, C., & Havermans, R.
(2008). Negative affect and cue-induced overeating in non-eating disordered obesity.
Appetite, 51, 556-562.
Macht, M., & Simons, G. (2011). Emotional regulation and well-being. (pp. 281-295). Springer
Science & Business Media.
Ouwens, M. A., van Strien, T., & van Leeuwe, J. F. J. (2009). Possible pathways between
depression, emotional and external eating. a structural equation model. Appetie, 53, 245248.
Ozier, A. D., Kendrick, O. W., Leeper, J. D., Knol, L. L., Perko, M., & Burnham, J. (2008).
Overweight and obesity are associated with emotion-and stress-related eating as
measured by the eating and appraisal due to emotions and stress questionnaire. Journal of
the American Dietetic Association, 108(1), 49-56.
Prichard & Wilson (2003).Using emotional and social factors to predict student success. Journal of
College
Student Development 44(1), 18-28.
Sanders, R. T. (1998). Intellectual and psychosocial predictors of success in the college transition: A
multi-ethnic study of freshman students on a predominately White campus. Dissertation
Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 58(10-B), 5655.
References
Slochower, J. (1983). Excessive eating: the role of emotions and environment. New York:
Human Sciences Press.
O
Ting, S. R., & Robinson, T. L. (1998). Cognitive and noncognitive factors as predictors of
retention among academically at-risk college students: A structural equation
modeling approach. Dissertations and Abstracts International Section A: Humanities
and Social Sciences, 57(7-A), 2907.
O
van Strien, T., & Bazelier, F. G. (2007). Perceived parental control of food intake is related to
external, restrained and emotional eating in 7-12-year-old boys and girls. Appetite,
49, 618-625.
O
van Strien, T., Herman, C. P., Anschutz, D. J., Engles, R. C. M. E., & de Weerth, C. (2012).
Moderation of distress-induced eating by emotional eating scores. Appetie, 58(277284).
O
Wallis, D. J., & Hetherington, M. M. (2004). Stress and eating: the effects of ego-threat and
cognitive demand on food intake in restrained and emotional eaters. Appetite, 43(1),
39-46.
O
Wallis, D. J., & Hetherington, M. M. (2008). Emotions and eating. self-reported and
experimentally induced changes in food intake under stress. Appetite, 52, 355362.
O
O The End
Statistical Analysis
O Data analysis
O Correlations
O Multiple regression
O GPA
O Race
O BMI
O Gender
O Year
O Total
O F1, F2, F3 total
Statistical Analysis (2)
O ANOVA: WC and GPA; WC and score
O Group 1 = normal weight (BMI: 18.5-24.99)
O Group 2 = overweight (BMI: 25-29.99)
O Group 3 = obese (BMI ≥ 30)
O Independent T-test: EADES score and GPA;
EADES score and BMI
O Group 1 = EADES score below median
O Group 2 = EADES score above median
Results
Measurement
Mean
Standard
Deviation
Height
65.05 in.
2.89 in.
Weight
154.77 lbs.
35.32 lbs.
BMI
25.62
5.19
Age
25.84
7.86
Results
Measure
Mean
Standard
Deviation
EADES Score
160.04
23.99
GPA
3.53
.364
*EADES score range: 44-220
Results
Factor
Mean
1) Emotions and stress 80.4
related eating
Standard
Deviation
17.67
Range (24-120)
2) Appraisal and ability 78.81
of resources to cope
Range (20-100)
8.29
Results
Category
N
Mean GPA
BMI
Age
EE
76
3.56 (.37)
27.48
(5.73)
26.33
(7.86)
Non-EE
79
3.50 (.36)
23.84
(3.89)
26.09
(6.78)
Total
155
3.53
(.364)
25.62
(5.19)
25.84
(7.86)
Total score and GPA not significant
*Standard deviation in parentheses ()
EADES Score
Male
Female
Gender
Results
O Significant Correlations
O Age and BMI ( p < .01)
O Age and GPA ( p < .05)
O Year and GPA ( p < .05)
O F1 and BMI ( p < .01)
O Total and BMI ( p < .01)
O F1, F2, F3 ( p < .01)
Results
O Regression (GPA)
O Age and GPA ( p < .05)
O Emotional eating and GPA (not significant)
O BMI and GPA (not significant)
O Gender and GPA (not significant)
O Race and GPA (not significant)
Results
O Regression (BMI)
O Age and BMI (p < .01)
O Gender and BMI (p < .01)
O Total EADES Score and BMI (p < .01)
O F1 and BMI (p < .01)
Results
O T-test
O Below median: n = 75
O Total score and BMI (p < .01)
O Total score and GPA (not significant)
Results
O ANOVA
O Weight Category and GPA (not significant)
O Weight Category and total score (not
significant)
Conclusions
O Total EADES score did not have a significant
relationship with GPA in this sample of
students
O F1 had a relationship with BMI
Conclusions
O Contradict previous studies
O BMI and GPA
O Race and GPA
O Emotional eating may not be a significant
predictor of GPA
O Emotion and stress related eating important
factor for BMI
Limitations
O Biased sample
O Using a larger sample from the university
may yield different results
Further Research
O Larger samples at other universities to
understand the prevalence of emotional
eating
O Continue measuring retention each
semester
Recommendations
O Provide early interventions to prevent onset
of emotional eating
O Particularly for emotion and stress related
eating
O Relationship to BMI
O May be important for preventing obesity
Recommendations
O Education practitioners to identify underlying
symptoms (depression, anxiety)
O Provide education to university students to
recognize signs and symptoms of emotional
eating and their precursors
References
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
56,
O
Adam T, Epel, E. (2007). Stress, eating and the reward system. Physiology and Behavior, 91,
449-458.
Adriaanse, M. A., de Ridder, D. T. D., & Evers, C. (2011). Emotional eating: Eating when
emotional or emotional about eating?. Psychology and Health, 26(1), 23-39.
Ahmad, I., & Rana, S. (2012). Affectivity, achievement motivation, and academic performance
in college students. Pakistan Journal of Psychological Research, 27(1), 107-120.
Canetti, L., Bachar, E., & Berry, E. M. (2002). Food and emotion. Behavioural processes, 60(2),
157-164.
Chua, J. L., Touyz, S., & Hill, A. J. (2004). Negative mood-induced overeating in obese binge
eaters: an experimental study. International Journal of Obesity,28(4), 606-610.
DeRoma, V. M., Leach, J. B., & Leverette, J. P. (2009). The relationship between depression and
college academic performance. College Student Journal, 43(2), 325-334.
Epel, E., Lapidus, R., McEwen, B., & Brownell, K. (2001). Stress may add bite to appetite in
women:
a laboratory study of stress-induced cortisol and eating
behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 26(1), 37-49.
Fay, H. S., & Finlayson, G. (2011). Negative affect-induced food intake in non-dieting women is
reward driven and associated with restrained-disinhibited eating subtype. Appetite,
682-688.
Heatherton, T. F., & Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Binge eating as an escape from self-awareness.
Psychology Bulletin, 110(1), 86-108.
References
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Hepworth, R., Mogg, K., Brignell, C., & Bradley, B. P. (2010). Negative mood increases
selective attention to food cues and subjective appetite. Appetite, 54, 134-142.
Hysenbegasi, A., Hass, S. L., & Rowland, C. R. (2005). The impact of depression on the
academic productivity of university students. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and
Economics, 8, 145-151.
Jansen, A., Vanreyten, A., van Balveren, T., Roefs, A., Nederkoorn, C., & Havermans, R.
(2008). Negative affect and cue-induced overeating in non-eating disordered obesity.
Appetite, 51, 556-562.
Macht, M., & Simons, G. (2011). Emotional regulation and well-being. (pp. 281-295). Springer
Science & Business Media.
Ouwens, M. A., van Strien, T., & van Leeuwe, J. F. J. (2009). Possible pathways between
depression, emotional and external eating. a structural equation model. Appetie, 53, 245248.
Ozier, A. D., Kendrick, O. W., Leeper, J. D., Knol, L. L., Perko, M., & Burnham, J. (2008).
Overweight and obesity are associated with emotion-and stress-related eating as
measured by the eating and appraisal due to emotions and stress questionnaire. Journal of
the American Dietetic Association, 108(1), 49-56.
Prichard & Wilson (2003).Using emotional and social factors to predict student success. Journal of
College
Student Development 44(1), 18-28.
Sanders, R. T. (1998). Intellectual and psychosocial predictors of success in the college transition: A
multi-ethnic study of freshman students on a predominately White campus. Dissertation
Abstracts International Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 58(10-B), 5655.
References
Slochower, J. (1983). Excessive eating: the role of emotions and environment. New York:
Human Sciences Press.
O
Ting, S. R., & Robinson, T. L. (1998). Cognitive and noncognitive factors as predictors of
retention among academically at-risk college students: A structural equation
modeling approach. Dissertations and Abstracts International Section A: Humanities
and Social Sciences, 57(7-A), 2907.
O
van Strien, T., & Bazelier, F. G. (2007). Perceived parental control of food intake is related to
external, restrained and emotional eating in 7-12-year-old boys and girls. Appetite,
49, 618-625.
O
van Strien, T., Herman, C. P., Anschutz, D. J., Engles, R. C. M. E., & de Weerth, C. (2012).
Moderation of distress-induced eating by emotional eating scores. Appetie, 58(277284).
O
Wallis, D. J., & Hetherington, M. M. (2004). Stress and eating: the effects of ego-threat and
cognitive demand on food intake in restrained and emotional eaters. Appetite, 43(1),
39-46.
O
Wallis, D. J., & Hetherington, M. M. (2008). Emotions and eating. self-reported and
experimentally induced changes in food intake under stress. Appetite, 52, 355362.
O
The End