Association between Optimism and Emotional Eating in US Latino adults

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating (EE), a dysfunctional eating behavior characterized by eating due to negative emotions or adversity, is prevalent among Latinos in the United States (US) and has been shown to be associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in this population. Optimism has been consistently linked with favorable cardiovascular health and health behaviors, likely due to more adaptive coping to negative emotions and adversity. However, the association between optimism and EE has remained largely understudied, especially among US Latinos. Objective: To examine the association between optimism and EE in a sample of US Latinos.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Latino Health and Well-being Study, a cohort of Latino men and women aged 21-84 years residing in the northeast US (analytic sample: n=587). Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test – Revised version (categorized in tertiles: low, moderate, and high). EE was measured with the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire R18-V2 (categorized as no EE, low EE, and high EE). Adjusted Poisson models with robust error variance estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Overall, 50.3% of the sample were female, 73.3% self-identified as Dominicans, and mean (SD) age was 46.6 ± 15.5 yr. In the total sample, high EE was reported by 34.2%, low EE in 26.9%, and no EE in 38.8%. The proportion of individuals reporting high EE was greater in the low (39.0%) and moderate (36.8%) optimism groups than that in the high optimism group (24.8%; p=0.011). In adjusted models, individuals with high optimism (vs. low) were 32% less likely to report high EE over no EE (PR=0.68; 95% CI=0.53-0.88). Moderate optimism was not significantly associated with high EE. Optimism was not associated with low EE.

Conclusion: High levels of optimism were negatively associated with high EE in a sample of US Latinos. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings. Interventions and clinical programs promoting optimism may hold promise for preventing EE in US Latinos.