Exploring the relationship between emotions, beliefs about emotions and eating behaviours

What is the purpose of this research?

The purpose of this research project is to explore how a person’s positive and negative emotions and beliefs about their emotions are associated with eating behaviours.

Are you looking for people like me?

You are invited to participate in the questionnaire if you are 18 years or older, currently reside in Australia and do not have a current or previous eating disorder diagnosis. People with a range of personal eating behaviours are required for this study and encouraged to participate.

Please be aware that this study asks questions about personal eating behaviours, negative emotions and your beliefs about your emotions. Reflection on these topics may be confronting and cause psychological discomfort or distress. If you believe that it would be distressing to reflect on your personal eating behaviours, negative emotions and beliefs about your emotions, you should not participate in this research.

What will you ask me to do?

Participation will involve completing a 74-item anonymous questionnaire with open response answers (e.g. number of times or days) and rating your answers on a scale, for example, “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”. This may take approximately 15-20 minutes of your time. You will be asked questions about your experience in managing your thoughts and feelings, your experience of positive and negative emotions over the past week and your personal eating behaviours (like dieting or emotional eating).

Are there any risks for me in taking part?

There are risks in relation to participating in this study. Primarily, there is a risk of psychological discomfort or distress in response to questionnaire questions asking about your personal eating behaviours and negative emotions. You can cease participation at any time, without penalty, by closing the web browser. However, your answers from the completed items will be retained.

If you experience any elevated distress from participating in this study, please contact one of the following organisations for support. These are also listed at the bottom of every page during the questionnaire:

• For young people aged between 18 to 25, you can call the Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
• Lifeline provides 24-hour telephone crisis support; call 13 11 24.

Are there any benefits for me in taking part?

It is expected that this research project will not benefit you directly. However, it may benefit others experiencing disordered eating by helping researchers further understand the relationship between emotions, meta-emotion beliefs and eating behaviors.

Will I be compensated for my time?

To recognise your contribution, first year QUT psychology students can choose to earn 0.5 of a mark (course credit) for completing the questionnaire. For all other participants, the research team is offering a chance to win 1 of 2 $50 gift cards for participation in this study.

Please note, first year QUT students who receive course credit through SONA are not eligible to enter the draw to win a prize.

I am interested - what should I do next?

Visit the survey website to access the participant information sheet and complete the online survey:

Visit the survey website