Psychological Constructs and Dysfunctional Eating in Pakistani University Students

The present study aims to test a model that seeks to explainhow Parental Bonding and Loneliness may be responsible in the developmentof Dysfunctional Eating Patterns such as Cognitive Restraint,Emotional Eating, Uncontrolled Eating, Drive toward Thinness, Bulimiaand Dissatisfaction with Body Image. It was further hypothesizedthat Metacognitions, Core beliefs andMeta-Emotions would mediate between Loneliness, ParentalBonding, and the aforementioned Dysfunctional Eating Patterns. Correlationalresearch design has been used. A sample of 210 university studentswas selected from government and private universities. Urdu translated versionsof UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R-18,Eating Disorders Inventory-3, Parental Bonding Inventory, Beliefsabout Emotions Scale, Eating Disorders Belief Questionnaire andMetacognitions Questionnaire were used for assessment purposes.Correlational Analysis, and Multiple Hierarchical Regressionwere used to analyze the data. Almost all dimensions of ParentalBonding showed significant relationship with some patterns of DysfunctionalEating. Loneliness did not show any significant correlation withDysfunctional Eating. None of the hypothesized mediators(Metacognitions, Meta-Emotions and Core Beliefs) mediated therelationship between Parental Bonding dimensions and patterns ofDysfunctional Eating, yet some interesting relationships emerged. The findings of this research can help in understanding the culturaldifferences between East and West. Possible reasons why results could notsupport the previous literature are discussed.