Diet Quality as a Key Moderator Between Emotional Intelligence and Disordered Eating Behaviors: Insights Across Young and Mature Adults

Young adulthood (18–29 years) and mature adulthood (30 years or above) represent distinct psychosocial stages, characterized by differences in brain maturity, cognitive development, emotional regulation, and vulnerability to disordered eating. This study examined the intersection of emotional intelligence (EI), diet quality, and pathological eating behaviors (PEB) across these age groups, addressing gaps in population-specific research. A total of 1,386 participants aged 18 and older completed an anonymous survey, which included demographic questions, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), and the Food-Mood Questionnaire. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient analysis were conducted using SPSS version 28. The results indicate that mature adults are more likely to exhibit higher EI when consuming a healthy diet. Mature adults who consume dark leafy greens are more likely to be able to find ways to control their emotions (p<0.01) and less likely to find it difficult to bond with others (p<0.01). Both young and mature adults who consume fast food are less likely to address their stressors (p<0.01). In young adults only, fast food consumption was significantly correlated with having their weight judge how they view themselves as a person (p<0.01). Young adults who had difficulties regulating their emotions were more likely to eat secretly (p<0.01) and lose control of eating (p<0.01). Young adults who consume more caffeine are also more likely to engage in PEB through the desire for an empty stomach (p<0.01) and fear of gaining weight (p<0.01). No significant correlations among mature adults were found between caffeine consumption and PEB. Young adults revealed additional significant correlations with low EI: they are less likely to believe they have personal strengths (p<0.01) and don’t feel able to influence the feelings of others (p<0.01). Adults aged 30 and older exhibited higher emotional intelligence (EI) even with poor diet quality. Mature adults however did demonstrate increased PEB when both diet quality and EI were low. In this study, diet quality emerged as a moderating factor, with younger and mature adults showing higher susceptibility to emotional triggers leading to PEB when consuming nutrient-poor diets. These findings also suggest that the psychosocial changes of early adulthood amplify the impact of poor diet quality and low EI on disordered eating. This study highlights the importance of age-specific interventions to address these risks. For young adults, targeted mental health programs that enhance emotional resilience, combined with nutrition education, may mitigate early-stage pathological eating behaviors (PEB). For adults aged 30 and older, interventions emphasizing sustained emotional development and dietary improvements could address persistent vulnerabilities. This novel study underscores the role of diet quality as a moderating factor in PEB and EI across adults, highlighting young adults as a particularly vulnerable population to the combined effects of poor diet quality and low EI on increased susceptibility to PEB. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.