Objective: This study examines the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between weight-related self-stigma and emotional eating among overweight and obese individuals.
Methods: The study included 200 overweight and obese individuals. Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of a sociodemographic information form, the Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ), the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ). The data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS and AMOS software packages.
Results: The results indicated that higher levels of weight-related self-stigma were significantly associated with increased emotional eating. The procrastination, distraction/suppression, and repression/denial subdimensions of multidimensional experiential avoidance had a significant mediating effect in this relationship. However, no significant mediation effect was observed for the behavioral avoidance, distress aversion, and distress endurance subdimensions.
Conclusion: The findings reveal that experiential avoidance strategies (particularly procrastination, distraction/suppression, and repression/denial) based on internal processes and providing automatic, short-term relief are key determinants in the relationship between weight-related self-stigmatization and emotional eating. Furthermore, no significant mediating effects were observed for dimensions reflecting the tendency to avoid external stimuli (behavioral avoidance) or long-term regulatory processes (distress aversion and distress endurance). A multidimensional assessment of experiential avoidance may contribute to more targeted and individualized interventions for overweight and obesity.