Life history strategy and overeating during COVID-19 pandemic: a moderated mediation model of sense of control and coronavirus stress

Journal of Eating Disorders

Mingfan Liu¹  Baojuan Ye¹  Xinqiang Wang¹  Ruining Wang¹  Qiang Yang² 

[1] Center of Mental Health Education and Research, School of Psychology, Jiangxi Normal University, 99 Ziyang Avenue, 330022, Nanchang, China;School of Education, Jiangxi Normal University, 99 Ziyang Avenue, 330022, Nanchang, China;

关键词: Life history strategy;    Sense of control;    Coronavirus stress;    Overeating;    College students;    COVID-19;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40337-021-00514-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThis study examined the mediating effect of sense of control and the moderating effect of coronavirus stress on the relationship between life history strategy and overeating among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 period.Methods3310 Chinese students (Mage = 19.74, SD = 1.50; 47% males) completed self-reported questionnaires regarding life history strategy, sense of control, overeating, and coronavirus stress. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s r correlations and moderated mediation analysis.ResultsThe results revealed that control sense mediated the link between life history strategy and college students’ overeating. College students’ coronavirus stress moderated the associations between life history strategy and college students’ sense of control and between control sense and overeating. The association between life history strategy and sense of control was stronger for those with lower coronavirus stress, and the association between sense of control and overeating was stronger for those with lower coronavirus stress.ConclusionsThis study identified that the critical factors were associated with overeating. On the one hand, the research deepens the application and interpretation of life history theory in the field of eating; on the other hand, it provides evidence for the prevention of overeating, and provides theoretical basis for psychological assistance among Chinese college students.

【 授权许可】

CC BY