Exploring Emotion Regulation and Trait Mindfulness within the Relationship between Racial Discrimination and Emotional Eating among Black Women

Abstract

Obesity is more prevalent among Black adults, particularly Black women, compared to other minority groups. Emotional eating has been identified as a potential modifiable behavior that has been linked to increased rates of obesity for Black women. Stress resulting from racial discrimination, also known as race-related stress, is as a potential risk factor for emotional eating. However, research has yet to examine the mechanisms by which race-related stress may impact emotional eating among Black women, as well as factors that may moderate these relationships. Therefore, the current aim of this study was to examine whether emotional regulation strategies mediate the relationship between race-related stress and emotional eating, and whether mindfulness may moderate these mediational pathways, among Black women. Black women across the United States (n=558, Mage= 39.88, SD =13.47) completed an online survey. Results found that race-related stress was significantly associated with emotional eating (β = 0.151; p < .001). Rumination was found to be the only emotional regulation strategy to significantly mediate the relationship between race-related stress and emotional eating (β = .035; 95%CI [.018, .055]). Trait mindfulness moderated one path; at higher levels there was an inverse relationship between race-related stress and emotional suppression (β = -1.110; 95%C [ -2.101, -.119]). This extends previous literature suggesting a relationship between race-related stress and emotional eating through rumination beyond emerging adulthood. These findings serve as a foundation for future researchers to investigate the impacts of specific race-related stressors on emotional eating through rumination and avoidant emotional regulation strategies for Black women. The long-term impacts of this body of research are to reduce disparities in obesity for black women within the broader context of systemic, cultural, intervention and policy changes.