Emotions on the menu: Reflexive thematic analysis of emotional eating in academic context

The experiences of seven academicians at a private university with emotional eating were examined. Data driven by face-to-face interviews and food diaries were analyzed by using reflexive thematic analysis via MAXQDA. Three overarching themes: (i) Feeding the tension: Stress-induced emotional eating, (ii) Treat or threat? Coping with emotional and social triggers, (iii) Tug of war-Comfort vs. control arose from in-depth interviews using reflective thematic analysis. The findings of the study highlight the importance of addressing work-related stressors, personal life pressures, and eating patterns to promote an in-depth understanding among emotional eating-related factors. Negative emotions and social norms acted as triggers of emotion-induced food consumption in academic contexts. This study emphasizes that providing institutional support in terms of environmental and psychological domains might encourage academicians to adopt effective coping mechanisms. Future studies might integrate interventions that address the underpinnings of emotional eating, with a focus on guilt management, self-compassion, and mindful eating practices.