The Effect of Childhood Experiences, Picky Eating, and Hedonic Hunger on Eating Addiction in University Students: Analyzed by Machine Learning Approach

Objective

The purpose of this research was to ascertain how university students' eating addiction was impacted by their early experiences, picky eating, and hedonic hunger.

Methods

This descriptive cross-sectional study involved 681 university students and was carried out between April and June 2024. A sociodemographic characteristics information form, Childhood Positive and Negative Experiences Scale, Picky Eating Scale, Yale Food Addiction Scale, and Power of Food Scale were utilized to collect data. G^*Power 3.1, the SPSS 22 software, and the R programming language 4.1.3 were utilized in the study's analysis.

Results

Hierarchical regression analysis produced a significant and applicable model for this investigation (F(4,676) = 61.193, p = 0.001). A total of 26.6% (R² = 0.266) of the variance in the degree of eating addiction was explained by the levels of Picky Eating, Negative Childhood Experiences, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Power of Food Scales. When the t-test results for the regression coefficient's significance were examined in the regression model, it was found that the level of “Eating Addiction” increased statistically in response to increases in the levels of Negative Childhood Experiences Scale (t = 7.699, p < 0.001), Picky Eating Scale (t = 6.625, p < 0.001), and Food Power Scale (t = 9.532, p < 0.001). Eating addiction was found to be unaffected by the degree of positive childhood experiences (p = −0.566). Hedonic hunger was found to be the most significant variable in predicting the eating addiction variable in the machine learning technique.

Conclusion

In our study, childhood experiences, picky eating status, and hedonic hunger status were found to affect eating addiction. Longitudinal studies on eating addiction in young people are recommended.