Nutr Res Pract.  2021 Apr;15(2):225-234. 10.4162/nrp.2021.15.2.225.

Association between stress and dietary habits, emotional eating behavior and insomnia of middle-aged men and women in Seoul and Gyeonggi

• Choi O
• Kim J
• Lee Y
• Lee Y
• Song K

• KMID: 2514464
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2021.15.2.225

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
The study was performed to investigate the degree of perceived stress by sex in middle-aged people, and to provide basic data for appropriate nutrition education and interventional measures for middle-aged subjects through comparative analysis of association between stress and dietary habits, emotional eating behavior, and insomnia.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
A survey was conducted in 670 middle-aged subjects (320 men and 350 women) aged 40–64 years, resided in Seoul and Gyeonggi area. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 25.0 program.
RESULTS
Perceived stress in middle-aged subjects was not different by sex. Stress was higher in men with low dietary habits level compared to other groups (P < 0.001), and was higher in women with low and moderate dietary habits level compared to women with high dietary habits level (P < 0.05). Stress in men was higher in the group with emotional eaters (P < 0.05), and the same result was shown in women (P < 0.001). Stress was higher in both men and women with poor sleep quality (P < 0.001). Stress score was positively correlated with emotional dietary behavior and insomnia (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with dietary habits (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
It is considered that proper nutrition education and interventional measures according to sex are needed for stress control and proper dietary behavior and lifestyle in middle-aged people population, along with projects and policies at the national level.

Keyword

Stress; dietary habit; emotional eating behavior; insomnia; middle-aged people

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