Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Risk and Protective Factors in the Relationship between Loneliness, Depression, and Eating Disorder Behavior in Emerging Adults

Publication Date

11-2024

College

Sciences and Mathematics, College of

Department

Psychological Science, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Abigail Heller, Ph.D.

Presentation Type

Metadata Only

Abstract

Loneliness can be defined as a distressing feeling that accompanies the perception that one’s social needs are not being met by the quantity or quality of one’s social relationships (Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010). Previous studies have shown a correlation between loneliness and feelings of depression (Kuczynski et al., 2024). In addition to this, depression has been shown to be a predictor of eating disorder behaviors (Christian et al., 2023). This study aimed to assess the indirect relationship between loneliness and eating disorder behavior, mediated by depressive symptoms. Additionally, the present study aimed to gauge whether additional psychological factors would moderate the relationship between loneliness and depression. These additional psychological factors were neuroticism, social self-compassion, and overall self-compassion. The literature is lacking when it comes to psychological elements such as neuroticism and social self compassion; however, prior research has shown that self-compassion can reduce the impact of the negative psychological outcomes that were previously associated with loneliness (Yangwenjie, 2024). Hence, the current study’s aim to assess the moderating role of self compassion, social self compassion, and neuroticism on the mediating relationship between loneliness, depression, and eating disorder behavior. Our study consisted of 150 emerging adults with a previously diagnosed eating disorder. Our participants were recruited via Prolific and were compensated $2.50 to complete a Qualtrics survey assessing the aforementioned psychological outcomes. Independent of moderators, there was a significant indirect effect of loneliness on eating disorder behavior via depression, b = 0.15, boot SE = 0.04, 95% bootstrap CI [0.08, 0.22]. Specifically, loneliness positively predicted depression, which then positively predicted eating disorder behavior. When included in the model, neither self-compassion nor neuroticism moderated the indirect effect of loneliness on eating disorder behavior via depression. However, social self-compassion significantly moderated the indirect effect, b = -0.05, boot SE = 0.03, 95% bootstrap CI [-0.11, -0.001]. Results highlight the importance of considering individual factors such as social self-compassion in preventing eating disorder behavior due to loneliness and depression in emerging adults with eating disorders.

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