Examining the Gender Differences in Eating Behaviors and Eating Beliefs among Young Adults

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between eating behaviors and eating beliefs among young adults. It also aimed to analyze gender-based differences in the perception of these variables. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed. The data was gathered among the participants in the southern part of Punjab between January and June 2022. There were 300 young adults (152 of male gender and 148 of female gender) aged 18 to 25 years. To collect quantitative data, standardized instruments were used. The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (Hunot et al., 2016) and the Eating Belief Questionnaire (Burton et al., 2018) were used to assess eating behaviors and the cognitive beliefs of the participants on eating behaviors. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between eating behaviors and eating beliefs. Male subjects showed a great difference in eating belief measures compared to female subjects, but there was a lack of difference in eating behaviors between the genders. The research highlights the importance of specialized treatment to address the maladaptive beliefs regarding eating and the identification of people who are prone to unhealthy eating habits.