A Study of Eating in Obese High School Girls during Stressful Situations

Kim, Sook Young

Abstract

This study was carried out to find out stress-eating relationship in obese high school girls and to investigate the factors related to stress-induced eating. The conceptual framework used in this study was individual difference model. The research method was methodological triangulation. The data of the study were collected from purposively sampled 309 normal high school girls and 314 obese high school girls in S city. 15 volunteers, obese high school girls, enrolled in this qualitative research. Quantitative data was collected from May 6 to June 10, 1997 through questionnaires about stress and stress-related eating changes and from June 23 to August 26, 1997, qualitative data was collected. The results of the study were as follows: 1. Obese high school girls were unaffected by stress(t=-1.84, p=0.0662). 2. Through quantitative analysis, obese people divided into two groups in their response to stress. One group was composed of stress- eater. The other group was composed of non- stress eater. 3. Disinhibition(t=-3.1275, p=0.0019), cognitive restrain (t=-3.1597, p=0.0017), hunger(t=-3.5878, p=0.0004) were significantly different between stress-eaters and non-stress eaters. 4. According to the interview, 5 subjects of obese girls were stress eaters, and 10 subjects were non-stress eaters. Through qualitative research, the related factors of eating were eating attitude & behavior, stimuli situations on eating, and personality. In stress-eater group, they constantly went on a diet, however, they were prompted to eat when an uneasy feeling such as anxiety, depression, annoyance developed. Their personality were entirely optimistic. Whereas non-stress eater group had no interest in diet and didn't appear to have psychological factors to stimulate eating in stressful situations. Their personality was not only optimistic but also keenly characteristic. 5. To compare obese-normal high school girls on the effect of stress in eating. Normal weigh high school girls decreased their eating when stressed(t= -13.62, p=0.0001). In conclusion, this study suggests that there are two different groups in obese high school girls in regards to eating responses on stressful situations. As a result of these finding, clinical and school nurses can detect the stress-eaters who need stress management intervention, and can apply appropriate management program according to the individual needs.