Psychosocial predictors of emotional eating among Thai nurses: a cross-sectional study

Nurses face high levels of stress and burnout that contribute to unhealthy coping behaviors, including emotional eating. While studies have examined psychosocial correlates of emotional eating, evidence remains limited in Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the association between psychosocial factors and emotional eating among Thai nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 168 nurses working across Thailand between January and May 2025. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Emotional Eating Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to identify psychosocial predictors. The model explained 33% of the variance in emotional eating. Client-related burnout (B = 0.054, p = 0.007), anxiety (B = 0.526, p < 0.001), and depression (B = 0.233, p = 0.034) were positively associated with emotional eating, while personal burnout was negatively associated (B = -0.057, p = 0.009). Sleep problems and work-related burnout were not found to be significant. Personal burnout showed an inverse relationship, highlighting the complex and domain-specific nature of burnout in relation to coping behaviors. Interventions should target the reduction of client-related stress and psychological distress, alongside resilience-building strategies, to mitigate emotional eating and promote the well-being of nurses.