Abstract

Sleep difficulties in adolescence have been linked to greater impulsivity, negative affect, propensity to interpret neutral stimuli as negative, and higher rates of anxiety and depressive symptomatology (Van Dyk, 2016). However, minimal research has looked at the relationship among sleep difficulties, emotional eating, and body dissatisfaction within this population. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the relationship among sleep difficulties, emotional eating, and body dissatisfaction among adolescents aged 12-18 years. Specifically, the current study stands to 1) confirm the relationship between emotional eating and body dissatisfaction; 2) test if sleep difficulties are related to emotional eating; 3) test if sleep difficulties are related to body dissatisfaction; 4) test if body dissatisfaction moderates the relationship between emotional eating and sleep difficulties; and 5) test if body dissatisfaction mediates the relationship between emotional eating and sleep difficulties. Bivariate analyses revealed shorter sleep duration was correlated with body dissatisfaction in the direction of desiring thinness (r = -0.323, p < .05). Multiple linear regressions showed a moderation effect of body dissatisfaction on the relationship between sleep duration and emotional eating, such that for adolescents desiring thinness, shorter sleep was associated with increased emotional eating in response to feeling angry, anxious, and/or depressed, R2Δ = .138, F(1, 52) = 8.613, p < .05. Thus, results from the current study highlight the use of sleep optimization treatments as possible intervention strategies for youth with high levels of body dissatisfaction and emotional eating tendencies.

LLU Discipline

Psychology

Department

Psychology

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Tori Van Dyk

Second Advisor

Janet Sonne

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Degree Level

Psych.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2023

Date (Title Page)

9-2023

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Adolescent; Body Dissatisfaction; Anxiety; Impulsive Behavior; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Feeding Behavior

Type

Doctoral Project

Page Count

xi, 66 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS