Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emotional eating is an abnormal eating behavior triggered by emotional states rather than physical hunger. It has been linked to various physiological, psychological, and lifestyle factors and is notably prevalent among females. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between emotional eating and premenstrual syndrome symptoms among female university students in Palestine. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Palestine Polytechnic University in the West Bank, Palestine, involving a sample of 450 female students. METHODS: Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising sections on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, lifestyle behaviors, and nutrition-related information. Standardized instruments included The International Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess physical activity levels, The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener to evaluate dietary habits, The Emotional Eating Scale to measure emotional eating behavior, and The Arabic Premenstrual Syndrome Scale to assess the presence and severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. RESULTS: A significant association was observed between emotional eating and the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms (p < 0.05), particularly within the psychological and behavioral domains. Emotional eating was most prevalent among participants with moderate psychological premenstrual syndrome symptoms (79.0%) and least prevalent among those without such symptoms (42.9%). Similarly, participants with mild overall premenstrual syndrome symptoms reported a high rate of emotional eating (77.3%), while those with no premenstrual syndrome symptoms had the lowest prevalence of emotional eating (25.0%). These findings suggest a gradient relationship between premenstrual syndrome symptom severity and emotional eating behaviors. No significant associations were identified between emotional eating and participants' medical history, lifestyle characteristics, weight status, or dietary habits (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Emotional eating is significantly associated with premenstrual syndrome symptoms across multiple domains. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to manage premenstrual syndrome and reduce the risk of disordered eating behaviors among young women.Short SummaryThis study explored how emotional eating - eating in response to feelings rather than hunger - relates to premenstrual syndrome among female university students in Palestine. A total of 450 students from Palestine Polytechnic University completed questionnaires about their eating habits, physical activity, and premenstrual syndrome symptoms. The results showed that students who experienced stronger premenstrual syndrome symptoms were more likely to report emotional eating, especially when they had mood or behavior-related premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Emotional eating was least common among those without premenstrual syndrome. However, emotional eating was not linked to weight, lifestyle, or diet quality. These findings suggest that premenstrual syndrome may increase the likelihood of emotional eating, emphasizing the importance of supporting young women through education and strategies to manage mood and eating behaviors during the menstrual cycle.