Sensitivity to punishment and emotional eating: The mediating role of shame and rumination.

OBJECTIVES

The relationship between sensitivity to punishment (SP) and emotional eating has been previously examined. However, effective variables in this relationship have yet to be recognized. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SP and emotional eating via facets of shame and rumination.

DESIGN

Serial Mediation model was proposed.

METHOD: Female university students in Iran (n = 174) completed Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire-Revised and Clarified (SPSRQ-RC), Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), Experience of Shame Scale (ESS) and Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS).

RESULTS

SP showed a significant effect on emotional eating. Moreover, we observed that the relationship between SP and emotional eating was separately mediated by shame (general, characterological and bodily shame) and rumination. We further noticed the sequentially mediating role of shame (general, characterological and behavioural shame) and rumination in the relationship between SP and emotional eating.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that high SP can increase the risk of emotional eating through negative emotions (e.g. shame) and disturbed cognitions (e.g. rumination). Therefore, for a better understanding, it seems necessary to consider emotional eating a maladaptive behaviour adopted as a possible result of the impairment of temperamental, emotional and cognitive systems.