Emotional eating & personality type A and type B behavioural patterns in adults: A comparative study

Abstract

Type A and B behavioural patterns have been getting more reach to understand personality in a more ‘black and white’ construct. Eating in response to an emotional state could have an impact based on these constructs. In fact, there has been evidence that emotional dispositions are part of personality (Pervin, 1975). The present study aims to examine whether and which of the types of personality, with respect to Type A and Type B behaviour patterns influence emotional eating in adult males and females via a comparative and descriptive study. The objectives were to determine the significant relationship between Type A and the Emotional Eating dimensions – Anger, Anxiety, Depression and Positive Emotions, significant relationship between Type B and the Emotional Eating dimensions – Anger, Anxiety, Depression and Positive Emotions, the significant difference in emotional eating between the adult males and females, compare the males and females of the sample for Type A and Type B personality and finally to find out whether Type A and Type B differ with respect to levels of emotional eating. The Emotional Eating Scale (EES) was administered on 31 Type A and 32 Type B personality patterning individuals (N = 63) in Chennai.  Pearson’s Correlation, Independent Sample Mann U Whitney Test and Independent Sample t-test were used with the help of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 21.