Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults

Hatice Merve  Bayram; Hatice Kübra Barcın-Guzeldere; Elif Ede-Cintesun; Zehra Margot Celik

doi:10.51745/najfnr.8.18.70-79

Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults

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Human and Clinical Nutrition

DOI https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.8.18.70-79

Issue Vol. 8 No. 18 (2024): July - December, 2024

Submitted 2024-07-09

Accepted 2024-09-21

Published 2024-09-23

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Background: Considering the reported negative effects of social media on mental health and the popularity of healthy eating movements on these platforms, a potential relationship between orthorexia nervosa (ON), intuitive eating, mindful eating, and social media addiction warrants investigation.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the complex relationship between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, ON, depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults.

Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 303 students, in Istanbul, Türkiye, between December 2023 and May 2024. Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, Orthorexia Nervosa Questionnaire (ORTO-11), Intuitive Eating Scale – 2nd edition (IES-2), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-Short Form (DASS-21), and Social Media Addiction Scale (SMAS). Body weight and height information were self-reported. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0.

Results: Of the participants, 67.7% were at risk of ON. According to ON classification, IES-2 and SMAS scores of participants with the risk of ON were higher and statistically significantly different compared to the participants with no risk of ON (p < 0.001, and p = 0.047, respectively). The ORTO-11 showed a positive moderate correlation with IES-2 scores (r = 0.401, p < 0.01), however, it showed a negative weak correlation with MEQ (r = -0.362, p < 0.01). Additionally, there was a negative weak correlation with ORTO-11 and SMAS (r = -0.104, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that all predictors were associated with the risk of ON. These variables predicted 13% of the variance.

Conclusion: The results suggest that modern social media may contribute to orthorexic symptoms, mindful and intuitive eating behaviors, and mental health outcomes.

Hatice Merve Bayram

Istanbul Gelisim University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Abeokuta, Cihangir Mah., Şehit Jandarma Komando Er Hakan Öner Sk. No:1 Avcılar, İstanbul
Hatice Kübra Barcın-Guzeldere

Istanbul Medeniyet University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Atalar Mh. Şehit Hakan Kurban Cd. 34862. Kartal, İstanbul. University Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Environmental and Life Science, University of Southampton University Road Southampton SO17 1BJ. UK
Elif Ede-Cintesun

Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Halkalı Cad. No: 281 Halkalı Küçükçekmece, İstanbul
Zehra Margot Celik

Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Marmara Üniversitesi Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Başıbüyük Külliyesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Başıbüyük Mah. Süreyyapaşa Başıbüyük Yolu Sk. 4 B Maltepe, İstanbul

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Exploring the interplay between social media addiction, mindful eating, intuitive eating, orthorexia nervosa, and mental health in young adults. (2024). The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 8(18), 70-79. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.8.18.70-79

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