Attachment and appetite: How parental bonds influence college students’ eating habits and food-related moods

This study investigates the emotional and psychological underpinnings of addictive-like eating behaviours in young adults through the lens of attachment theory. A total of 545 individuals aged 18 years and older participated in the study, completing demographic forms and validated self-report measures, including the three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, the Food-Mood Scale, and the Addictive Eating Behaviour Scale. Significant gender differences were observed, with females scoring higher in secure attachment ( p < 0.05), while males demonstrated higher appetite drive and greater levels of addictive-like eating behaviours ( p < 0.001). In addition, participants reporting well-balanced diets exhibited lower food-related mood scores, suggesting an association between diet quality and emotional well-being that may reflect underlying emotion regulation processes linked to attachment styles. Overall, the findings indicate that attachment styles are associated with eating behaviours and that these associations vary by gender. These results highlight the importance of considering emotional factors and gender-specific characteristics when developing nutrition-focussed interventions targeting addictive-like eating behaviours.