Emotional Eating in Hispanic Girls and Boys: The Role of Anxiety and Sleep Quality

<b>Background/Objective:</b> Emotional eating is a significant health problem associated with increased obesity and mental health among children and adolescents. Investigating emotional eating and its associated factors is critical, as it coincides with key developmental periods during which eating patterns are formed. This study assessed the contribution of anxiety and sleep quality to emotional eating among 232 Hispanic girls (<i>n</i> = 124, with a mean age of 10.23 years, <i>SD</i> = 1.40) and boys (<i>n</i> = 108, with a mean age of 10.36 years, <i>SD</i> = 1.57). <b>Methods:</b> This study used a correctional research design. Participants completed a series of surveys including demographics, acculturation, McKnight Risk Factor Survey-IV emotional eating subscale, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Participants also had their objective body height and weight measured. <b>Results:</b> Descriptive analyses showed that most girls (84%) and boys (87%) were born in the United States and were either overweight (<i>n</i> = 24, 19% girls; <i>n</i> = 18, 17% boys) or with obesity (<i>n</i> = 61, 49% girls; <i>n</i> = 61, 56% boys). The hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, for girls, poor sleep quality was the sole significant factor associated with EE (<i>β</i> = 350, <i>p</i> < 0.001), controlling for age and BMI. For boys, poor sleep quality (<i>β</i> = 0.302, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and anxiety (<i>β</i> = 0.247, <i>p</i> < 0.05) were significant. <b>Conclusions:</b> The study's findings suggest that emotional eating interventions may need to focus on reducing anxiety levels and improving sleep quality in Hispanic children and early adolescents.