University of Twente Student Theses
Does Avoidance Coping Strengthen the Association between Perceived Stress and Emotional Eating in Former ICU Patients’ Young Adult Family Members? : A Survey Study
Rudolph, Leona (2021) Does Avoidance Coping Strengthen the Association between Perceived Stress and Emotional Eating in Former ICU Patients’ Young Adult Family Members? : A Survey Study.
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| Abstract: | Background. The admission of a relative to the intensive care unit impacts the well-being of young adult family members, also in the time after the discharge. The perceived stress that is caused by the admission can induce emotional eating. Emotional eating has been shown to be higher in avoidance coping users. Objective. The present study investigated whether avoidance coping strengthens the association between perceived stress and emotional eating in young adult family members of former ICU patients up to 18 months after discharge. Methods. By convenience sampling, 54 young adults in the age of 18-29 (Mage=22.7; 72.2% female, 24.1% male, 3.8% other) were included in this cross-sectional survey study. The survey included the measures Perceived Stress Scale (α=.79), Coping Strategy Inventory (α=.76) and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (α=.96). To assess the association between perceived stress and emotional eating, moderated by avoidance coping, a multiple linear regression was applied. Results. Perceived stress was positively associated with emotional eating (=.37, p=.01). Avoidance coping was found to weaken this association between perceived stress and emotional eating (=-.29, p=.04). Conclusion. The present findings add to the research field of the experienced burdens of former ICU patients’ family members, as a health psychological perspective was provided. It emphasizes the importance of paying more attention to the impact of stress on eating behaviours, especially in young adults. The surprising finding, that the use of avoidance coping strategies protected from engaging in emotional eating shows the importance of further investigation which role coping strategies play when young family members are confronted with unchangeable situations. With this insight, effective interventions and prevention programs can be developed that specifically target young adult family members of former ICU patients. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/87555 |
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