Mindful Eating and Its Relationship to Mental Well-Being.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the relationship between mindful eating and mentalwell-being, two variables which have been shown to be associated through previous work studying mindfulness and facets of positive mental health. The hypothesis thus stated that there would be a significant positive relationship between mindful eating and mental well-being. The measure that was used to tap mindfulness was the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (Framson et al. 2009), while mental well-being was measured through Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (Tennant et al., 2007). A sample of 309 participants (males= 93, females= 216) was used, which was collected through an online survey method. As predicted, the results showed that there is a significant positive relationship between overall mindful eating and mental well-being (>=.291, p<0.05). Significant positive relationships were also found between four of the five mindful eating sub domains and mental well-being (Awareness: >=.221, p<0.05, Distraction: >=.105, p<0.05, Disinhibition: r=.208, /><0.05, Emotional Response: >=.1.89, p<0.05) while a non significant negative relationship was found between the remaining sub domain (Externa Cues) and mental well-being (r= -.063, /><0.136). Further avenues for research were also asuggested in light of the presented results.