Fast Food Addiction, Binge Eating and Cognitive Failure Among University Students

Abstract

The aim of current study is to find out the relationship between fast food addiction, binge eating and cognitive failure among university students. The study also focused to assess the differences among gender, marital status, family structure, bachelors and master’s degree program, residential area (KPK/Punjab), day-scholars and host elites, government/private university students over variables of fast food addiction, binge eating and cognitive failure. After detailed literature review, hypotheses were framed for the present study such as; there will be significant correlation between binge eating and fast food addiction. There will be significantly positive relationship among cognitive failure and fast food addiction. There will be variations in fast food addiction in different demographics. The total sample comprised of 300(157 males and 143 females) students of both private (230) and government universities (70) of KPK (124) and Punjab (176). Demographic information sheet, Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) (Ashley N. Gearhard et al., 2016), Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) (D. E. Broadbent, 1982) and Salzburg Stress Eating Scale (SSES) (Reichenberg et al., 2016) were used in current study. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, Independent sample t-test and ANOVA analysis of covariance were used to analyze and interpret research data. Results indicate the significant positive relationship of fast food addiction, cognitive failure and binge eating. Results also indicate no significant relationship among binge eating and cognitive failure. Significant difference was found among married and unmarried students on the measure of fast v food addiction. Results show the significant difference among KPK and Punjab residential and government and private universities on measure of binge eating. No significant differences among gender, degree program, family structure, dayscholars/ hostelites, and socioeconomic status have been found. Finally limitations of current study and recommendations for future study have also been suggested. Keywords: Fast food addiction, binge eating, cognitive failure