This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article%3Fid%3D10.1371/journal.pone.0343336
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
Citation: Obara-Gołębiowska M (2026) Psychological and way of life correlates of consuming conduct and adiposity: Structural and latent profile modeling. PLoS One 21(2):
e0343336.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0343336
Editor: Poppy Watson, University of Technology Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Received: October 13, 2025; Accepted: February 4, 2026; Published: February 20, 2026
Copyright: © 2026 Małgorzata Obara-Gołębiowska. This is an open entry article distributed below the phrases of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows unrestricted use, distribution, and replica in any medium, offered the unique creator and supply are credited.
Data Availability: The dataset supporting the findings of this research is overtly accessible in Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18289199.
Funding: The creator(s) obtained no particular funding for this work.
Competing pursuits: I’ve learn the journal’s coverage and the creator of this manuscript has declared that no competing pursuits exist.
Abbreviations:
BMI,
physique mass index; WC,
waist circumference; EMS,
early maladaptive schemas; ER,
emotion regulation; DERS,
difficulties in emotion regulation scale; YSQ,
younger schema questionnaire; MSPSS,
multidimensional scale of perceived social assist; PSS,
perceived stress scale; QERB,
questionnaire of eating-related behaviors; EO,
emotional overeating; HO,
ordinary overeating; DR,
dietary restraint; UDI,
unhealthy food plan index; IPAQ,
worldwide bodily exercise questionnaire; MET,
metabolic equal of activity; SEM,
structural equation modeling; CFA,
confirmatory issue evaluation; LPA,
latent profile evaluation; FIML,
full info most chance; BIC,
Bayesian info criterion; SABIC,
sample-size adjusted Bayesian info criterion; RMSEA,
root imply sq. error of approximation; SRMR,
standardized root imply sq. residual; CFI,
comparative match index; TLI,
Tucker–Lewis index
Introduction
Early maladaptive schemas and consuming conduct
Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are enduring cognitive–emotional patterns that emerge throughout childhood in response to unmet emotional wants and antagonistic interpersonal experiences. They signify maladaptive themes concerning the self, others, and relationships, and so they strongly affect have an effect on regulation and coping behaviors [1,2]. Prior analysis has linked EMS to a variety of psychological difficulties, together with despair, nervousness, and character issues [1], however there may be rising recognition that EMS are additionally related to health-related behaviors akin to consuming [3,4].
Evidence means that EMS are related to overeating and weight-related difficulties by their affect on self-regulation and stress responsiveness [3,4]. For occasion, schemas within the Disconnection/Rejection area (e.g., Emotional Deprivation, Abandonment) have been linked to heightened emotional vulnerability [2], whereas schemas within the Impaired Limits area (e.g., Insufficient Self-Control) have been related to difficulties in self-regulation that will predispose people to impulsive consuming and challenges adhering to dietary targets. In community-based research, people with chubby and weight problems endorse greater ranges of those EMS in comparison with normal-weight individuals, with girls and youthful adults specifically reporting stronger schema endorsement and extra emotional overeating [5]. These findings spotlight EMS as transdiagnostic cognitive–emotional buildings that will form vulnerability to dysregulated consuming.
Emotion regulation and disordered consuming
Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are constantly implicated in maladaptive consuming patterns [6]. ER refers back to the capability to determine, perceive, and modulate emotional states in adaptive methods. Individuals experiencing ER difficulties typically wrestle with heightened detrimental have an effect on and will flip to meals as a coping technique [7]. Emotional overeating, specifically, has been described as an try and downregulate misery by meals consumption, regardless of its long-term detrimental penalties for weight and well being [8].
Studies show that ER difficulties are related to emotional and ordinary overeating [9] and may mediate associations between EMS and disordered consuming attitudes [10]. Evidence from each medical and neighborhood samples means that ER difficulties are strong correlates of a variety of problematic consuming behaviors [11]. Longitudinal findings additional present that ER difficulties are prospectively linked to weight acquire and poorer dietary high quality [12,13], suggesting that ER might signify a key psychological mechanism by which broader cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities relate to consuming conduct over time [14,15].
Stress and social assist as contextual elements
Beyond cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities, contextual elements akin to perceived stress and social assist play significant roles in shaping consuming conduct. Stress is a well-established correlate of overeating, significantly of calorie-dense, palatable meals. Experimental and observational research have constantly reported that stress is related to elevated emotional consuming and decreased dietary restraint [16–18]. Stress has additionally been linked to each larger ER difficulties and stronger activation of EMS, indicating that it might exacerbate current psychological vulnerabilities.
Conversely, perceived social assist capabilities as a protecting issue, mitigating the extent to which psychological vulnerabilities relate to consuming conduct. Social assist has been proven to buffer stress and cut back reliance on maladaptive coping methods akin to overeating [19]. In community-based samples, greater perceived social assist has been linked to more healthy dietary patterns, with proof that these associations might contain self-efficacy and body-related considerations [20]. Notably, social assist seems to function primarily on the degree of consuming conduct quite than adiposity itself, highlighting its function as a contextual useful resource that facilitates adaptive coping.
Taken collectively, these findings recommend that stress and social assist might act as moderators of the pathways linking EMS, ER, and maladaptive consuming. Stress might strengthen associations between EMS and ER difficulties, whereas social assist might attenuate them. Understanding these moderating results is important for growing a nuanced account of how psychological and contextual elements collectively relate to consuming conduct.
Lifestyle elements: Diet high quality and bodily exercise
Lifestyle behaviors akin to food plan high quality and bodily exercise signify extra elements related to understanding consuming and adiposity. Psychological research typically depend on self-report measures that seize tendencies akin to emotional or ordinary overeating; nevertheless, such devices don’t instantly replicate precise meals consumption [21]. Nutritional epidemiology subsequently emphasizes validated dietary evaluation instruments akin to meals frequency questionnaires (FFQ), which permit quantification of ordinary dietary consumption [22]. In Poland, the FFQ-6 has been validated and is extensively used to evaluate each wholesome and unhealthy consuming patterns, together with the Unhealthy Diet Index (UDI) [23]. Higher UDI scores have constantly been related to weight problems danger and antagonistic well being outcomes [24]. Moreover, latest analysis highlights hyperlinks between consumption of ultra-processed meals, weight problems, and psychological misery, together with emotional consuming [25,26].
Physical exercise constitutes one other way of life issue with implications for each physiological and psychological functioning. Insufficient bodily exercise and extended sedentary conduct typically co-occur with unhealthy dietary habits, amplifying each health-related and emotional dangers [27]. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) has demonstrated reliability and validity throughout numerous cultural contexts [25], and standardized pointers exist for its scoring and interpretation [28]. Despite its relevance, bodily exercise isn’t examined alongside deeper cognitive–emotional elements akin to EMS and ER inside a unified analytical mannequin.
Why structural equation modeling and latent profile evaluation
Although the psychological correlates of consuming conduct have been extensively examined utilizing group-comparison and regression-based approaches, a lot of this work has centered on remoted constructs or particular pathways quite than on their joint group inside a broader system. As a end result, much less is understood about how cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities, contextual elements, and way of life behaviors co-occur and combine in relation to adiposity outcomes in neighborhood samples. Although EMS, ER difficulties, perceived stress, and social assist have every been individually linked to consuming behaviors and adiposity, prior analysis has usually examined these constructs individually quite than inside integrative analytical frameworks. Regression-based approaches have offered priceless insights into direct associations however stay restricted of their capability to seize complicated mediating and moderating mechanisms amongst psychological and way of life determinants of weight [5]. Structural equation modeling (SEM) presents a complete framework to concurrently estimate a number of pathways, incorporate latent constructs, and account for measurement error [29–31]. SEM is subsequently nicely suited to testing integrative fashions by which EMS are related to consuming behaviors not directly by way of ER difficulties, with stress and social assist appearing as contextual moderators. Moreover, SEM permits for multi-group analyses to look at whether or not these pathways differ by gender and age.
Importantly, regardless of the theoretical relevance of EMS, ER, stress, social assist, food plan high quality, bodily exercise, and adiposity, no earlier research has built-in all these constructs inside a single SEM framework in a big grownup pattern. This hole underscores the novelty of the current research’s method.
Complementing SEM, latent profile evaluation (LPA) allows the identification of subgroups of people who share comparable psychological and behavioral traits. Prior work in way of life and vitamin analysis has typically revealed two or three latent lessons [32,33], usually reflecting gradations of danger (e.g., low-, intermediate-, and high-risk profiles). However, the precise variety of significant psychological–behavioral profiles is empirically decided and will fluctuate throughout samples. Extending LPA to the psychological area gives an ecologically legitimate technique to combine EMS, ER difficulties, stress, and social assist with way of life indicators. Prior analysis signifies that people excessive in emotional vulnerability and low in emotion regulation are inclined to report extra overeating and weight-related issues [3,14,15], whereas people with greater social assist have a tendency to point out more healthy consuming patterns [19]. Women and youthful adults additionally are inclined to endorse extra maladaptive schemas and report extra emotional consuming [5].
Together, these findings justify the expectation that a number of latent profiles reflecting distinct constellations of psychological and way of life elements could also be recognized, though their quantity and construction stay exploratory.
Integrative conceptual mannequin
Eating behaviors end result from a fancy interaction of cognitive, emotional, and social elements. EMS, conceptualized as pervasive cognitive–emotional patterns developed in childhood, might relate to emotion regulation difficulties [1,7,34,35], which in flip are related to maladaptive coping methods akin to emotional or ordinary overeating. Perceived stress displays the extent to which people appraise life conditions as unpredictable or overwhelming [36]. In line with the transactional mannequin of stress and coping [37] and basic buffering fashions of social assist [38], greater stress might coincide with larger ER difficulties, whereas social assist might buffer these associations.
Given the cross-sectional design, all pathways within the mannequin have been conceptualized as associations quite than causal mechanisms.
Fig 1 depicts the hypothesized associations guiding the current research.
Fig 1. Conceptual model of hypothesized associations among early maladaptive schemas (EMS), emotion regulation difficulties (DERS), contextual factors (perceived stress and social support), eating behavior patterns (emotional overeating [EO], habitual overeating [HO], dietary restraint [DR]), lifestyle indicators (physical activity and sedentary behavior), and adiposity outcomes (body mass index and waist circumference).
Arrows represent associations estimated in cross-sectional data rather than causal effects.
The current research
The current research aimed to guage a complete, integrative mannequin linking EMS, ER difficulties, perceived stress, social assist, consuming behaviors, food plan high quality, bodily exercise, and adiposity in a big grownup neighborhood pattern (N = 1500). Adiposity was operationalized utilizing two correlated outcomes: physique mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), with the latter included due to its nearer affiliation with central weight problems and cardiometabolic danger. Diet high quality was assessed utilizing the Unhealthy Diet Index (UDI) derived from the FFQ-6, and bodily exercise/sedentary conduct utilizing the IPAQ.
The research moreover utilized LPA to determine subgroups characterised by distinct configurations of psychological and way of life elements. Profiles have been in contrast on adiposity indicators to guage each theoretical (EMS, ER, stress, assist) and behavioral validation (EO, HO, DR, UDI, exercise, sedentary time).
Methods
Participants and process
A complete of 1,500 adults aged 18–65 years have been recruited between January 2018 and February 2025 by ads in native universities, healthcare facilities (together with a specialised weight problems clinic), and sports activities amenities. Recruitment was carried out as a part of long-term institutional collaborations to make sure entry to numerous populations differing in well being and way of life. To safe balanced statistical comparisons, individuals have been stratified by gender, age (youthful adults: 18–35 years; older adults: 36–65 years), and physique mass index (regular weight vs. chubby/overweight). The research employed a non-probability, stratified purposive sampling method designed to make sure balanced illustration throughout gender, age teams, and BMI classes; accordingly, no statistical weighting was utilized, and findings must be interpreted in relation to this stratified neighborhood pattern quite than as population-representative estimates.
Importantly, no information assortment happened in the course of the strict COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, a interval that would have considerably affected individuals’ emotional functioning and consuming behaviors.
Eligibility standards included being not less than 18 years outdated, capable of perceive research procedures, and supply knowledgeable consent. Individuals with underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) have been excluded as a consequence of inadequate illustration. Detailed inclusion and exclusion standards, together with psychiatric and medical screening procedures, are offered in S1 File.
All individuals accomplished validated self-report questionnaires in on-line or paper–pencil format and underwent standardized anthropometric assessments (top, weight, waist circumference) carried out by educated researchers. The research adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was accepted by the Ethics Committee for Scientific Research on the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland (approval no. 1/2017). All individuals offered written knowledgeable consent previous to participation. This article follows the STROBE pointers, with the finished guidelines offered in S2 File.
Measures
Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS).
EMS have been assessed with the Polish adaptation of the Young Schema Questionnaire – Short Form, Third Edition (YSQ-S3) [1,39]. The 90-item YSQ-S3 measures 18 schemas throughout 5 domains on a 6-point Likert scale. Higher scores replicate stronger schema endorsement. Reliability within the current pattern was wonderful (α = .94). Full CFA loadings for all EMS indicators are offered in S3 File.
Emotion regulation difficulties.
Emotion regulation was measured with the Polish model of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; 36 objects; α = .93) [7,40].
Perceived stress.
Stress was assessed utilizing the Polish model of the Perceived Stress Scale – 10 objects (PSS-10; α = .86) [36,41].
Perceived social assist.
Social assist was measured with the Polish model of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS; 12 objects; α = .92) [38,42].
Eating behaviors.
Eating patterns have been assessed with the Questionnaire of Eating-Related Behaviors (QERB), measuring emotional overeating (EO), ordinary overeating (HO), and dietary restraint (DR) on a 0–10 scale (α = .78–.84) [43].
Dietary high quality.
FFQ-6 was used to calculate the Unhealthy Diet Index (UDI), reflecting frequency of consuming energy-dense, nutrient-poor meals (α = .80) [23,44].
Physical exercise and sedentary conduct.
Physical exercise and sedentary conduct have been measured with the Polish model of the IPAQ-SF. Weekly exercise was transformed to MET-min/week (IPAQ_MET); sedentary conduct was common day by day sitting time (minutes/day). Test–retest reliability is nice (r ≈ .80) [25,45].
Anthropometric indicators.
BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/top2 (m2). Waist circumference (WC) was measured on the midpoint between the iliac crest and the decrease rib margin and was analyzed individually as a consequence of its stronger affiliation with cardiometabolic danger [46].
Analytic technique
Preliminary analyses.
Preliminary descriptive analyses (normality testing, descriptive statistics, and correlations) have been initially carried out in Python and subsequently verified in R to make sure analytical consistency. Descriptive statistics reported within the current article are based mostly on the identical cleaned dataset used for all analyses carried out on this cohort, guaranteeing consistency in reported pattern traits. For multivariate modeling, chosen psychological, behavioral, and contextual variables have been represented utilizing composite indicators and standardized scores quite than uncooked scale totals.
Measurement Models (CFA).
Confirmatory issue analyses (CFA) have been carried out to validate the latent constructs. EMS was modeled as a higher-order issue indicated by 18 YSQ subscales; DERS as a unidimensional latent issue; and social assist as a latent assemble indicated by MSPSS objects. Model match was assessed utilizing χ², CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR. Thresholds of CFI/TLI ≥ .90, RMSEA ≤ .08, and SRMR ≤ .08 have been utilized as indicators of acceptable match. Full CFA loadings and residuals for all latent variables are offered in S3 File. Given their well-established unidimensional construction and in depth prior validation, DERS and MSPSS have been modeled as single latent constructs with out separate CFA reporting; reliability indices are reported within the Measures part.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
SEM was utilized to look at hypothesized associations linking EMS, DERS, consuming behaviors (EO, HO, DR), food plan high quality (UDI), way of life indicators (IPAQ_MET; Sitting), and adiposity outcomes (BMI, WC). Missing information have been dealt with utilizing FIML; outliers have been inspected utilizing strong estimation.
Indirect results have been estimated with bias-corrected bootstrapping (5,000 resamples, 95% CIs). Moderation was examined utilizing mean-centered interplay phrases (EMS × Stress; EMS × Social Support) predicting DERS. Multi-group invariance throughout intercourse and age (configural, metric, scalar) was evaluated, adopted by Wald exams of group variations.
Because some match indices indicated suboptimal match within the last SEM (CFI = .88; TLI = .86; SRMR = .13), extra mannequin comparisons have been carried out. More parsimonious alternate options (e.g., fashions with chosen structural paths eliminated) didn’t yield significant enhancements in match whereas lowering theoretical coherence; subsequently, the complete theoretically pushed mannequin was retained. All standardized path coefficients, oblique results, and moderation estimates are reported in S4 File. Because just one higher-order latent issue was specified for EMS, no latent correlations amongst EMS elements have been estimated or reported.
Latent Profile Analysis (LPA).
LPA was carried out on z-scores of EMS, DERS, stress, social assist, EO, HO, DR, UDI, IPAQ_MET, and Sitting. Solutions with one to 6 lessons have been estimated utilizing a number of random begins. Model choice relied on BIC, SABIC, entropy, and the Lo–Mendell–Rubin and bootstrap likelihood-ratio exams. Although three-class options confirmed barely improved info standards, the smallest class comprised <5% of individuals and lacked theoretical interpretability. The retained two-class answer demonstrated excessive entropy (≥.80) and clear psychological–behavioral coherence. Fit statistics and sophistication traits are reported in S5 File and within the detailed LPA dietary supplements (S7–S9 File).
Class membership was examined utilizing R3STEP, and distal outcomes (BMI, WC) have been in contrast utilizing BCH, with extra psychological and behavioral validators.
Software
Primary analyses have been carried out in R (v4.3.1) utilizing lavaan and semTools for SEM and tidyLPA for LPA. Preliminary descriptive analyses and information wrangling have been carried out in Python (v3.11). Reproducible scripts (with mounted random seeds) are offered in S10 File.
Results
Sample traits
The analytic pattern consisted of 1,500 individuals (53.0% girls, 47.0% males; 55.0% youthful adults, 45.0% older adults). Descriptive statistics for steady research variables are introduced in Table 1, and the distribution of individuals by intercourse, age group, residence, and schooling is reported in Table 2. All measures demonstrated ample variability with out proof of ground or ceiling results. No variables confirmed departures from normality that may preclude SEM estimation.
Measurement fashions
Confirmatory issue analyses supported the latent construction of EMS. EMS confirmed ample higher-order loadings (.59–.67). Fit indices met acceptable thresholds (CFI ≥ .91, RMSEA ≤ .07, SRMR ≤ .07).
DERS and perceived social assist have been modeled as single latent constructs, per prior validation research. Full measurement mannequin particulars are offered in S3 File.
Structural fashions (SEM; H1–H9)
The hypothesized SEM demonstrated acceptable however suboptimal match (χ²(407) = 3303, p < .001; CFI = 0.88; TLI = 0.86; RMSEA = 0.07; SRMR = 0.13). Such indices are widespread in multi-domain fashions estimated in giant samples, and the construction was retained based mostly on theoretical justification.
EMS have been strongly related to DERS (β = 0.71, p < .001; H1). Higher DERS have been related to emotional overeating and ordinary overeating and confirmed a small detrimental affiliation with dietary restraint (β ≈ –.09). Given vital gender variations in multi-group fashions, pooled coefficients must be interpreted with warning.
Direct EMS → EO/HO/DR paths remained vital, indicating partial mediation (H2–H3). The giant standardized direct paths from EMS to consuming outcomes seemingly replicate shared variance amongst self-reported constructs; extra mannequin diagnostics are offered in S3–S4 Files.
Eating behaviors have been positively related to UDI (β = 0.15–0.31, all p < .001; H7). Higher UDI was related to greater BMI (β = 0.20, p < .001) and WC (β = 0.11, p < .001; H8). Associations with WC have been modest.
HO and DR additionally confirmed direct relationships with BMI and WC impartial of UDI (β = 0.23–0.31).
Physical exercise was inversely related to BMI and WC (β = –0.11 and –0.07), whereas sedentary time was positively associated (β = 0.20 and 0.12; all ps < .001) (Table 3).
Full SEM output together with different fashions is reported in S4 File.
Indirect results
Indirect results by DERS and UDI have been vital however small for EMS → DR → UDI → BMI/WC (β = –0.002 to –0.003, p < .05).
These results have been statistically detectable however very small in magnitude.
No vital oblique results emerged for EO or HO.
Moderation analyses (H4–H5)
The EMS × Stress interplay was nonsignificant (β = 0.02, p =.310; H4 unsupported).
The EMS × Support interplay was vital (β = –0.05, p = .007; H5 supported), indicating weaker EMS → DERS associations amongst people with greater perceived assist.
The impact was small and interpreted as a refined attenuation (Table 4).
A visualization is introduced in S1 Fig.
Multi-group SEM (H6)
Age-group invariance (configural, metric, scalar) was supported; no structural paths differed considerably between youthful and older adults.
Gender-group fashions confirmed configural invariance however vital structural variations. DERS → EO and DERS → HO paths have been stronger amongst girls (Table 5):
Latent profile evaluation (H10a–H10e)
Model choice.
LPA fashions with 1–5 lessons have been estimated. The two-class answer demonstrated the very best general match, the bottom BIC, excessive entropy (0.94), and no class comprising fewer than 5% of individuals. This answer was chosen based mostly on mannequin match, class measurement, and interpretability. Fit indices and mannequin comparisons are offered in S5 File.
Adiposity variations (H10b)
High-risk people confirmed greater BMI (29.8 vs. 21.8) and WC (99.8 vs. 80.0 cm; p < .001).
Outputs in S7 File.
Discussion
The current research examined a complete SEM linking EMS, ER difficulties, stress, social assist, maladaptive consuming behaviors, food plan high quality, bodily exercise, and adiposity outcomes in a big grownup pattern. By concurrently incorporating cognitive–emotional, contextual, and way of life variables, the research gives an integrative framework for understanding the multifactorial pathways related to weight problems. Overall, the findings have been largely per the hypothesized associations and highlighted the relevance of psychological vulnerabilities and way of life behaviors as joint correlates of dietary and adiposity outcomes. Although mannequin match didn’t meet optimum thresholds (CFI/TLI < .90; SRMR > .08), this isn’t unusual for complicated, multi-domain SEMs in giant samples. Alternative fashions have been examined to make sure pathway stability, and the ultimate built-in mannequin was retained to protect theoretical coherence regardless of suboptimal match indices. The presence of constant however principally small results, alongside some reasonable direct associations, means that the retained mannequin captures significant relationships, whereas additionally indicating that extra variables (e.g., sleep, socioeconomic standing, environmental elements) are prone to account for residual variance past the constructs included right here. These issues guided the interpretation of the outcomes introduced under.
Cognitive–emotional mechanisms
As hypothesized (H1), EMS have been strongly related to ER difficulties, reinforcing schema idea that positions EMS as enduring cognitive–emotional patterns compromising have an effect on regulation [1,2]. This signifies that maladaptive schemas should not solely distal vulnerabilities however stay linked to emotion–regulation capacities in maturity. Consistent with H2, ER difficulties partly mediated the affiliation between EMS and consuming conduct, however this oblique impact was selective and restricted primarily to dietary restraint; no oblique results emerged for emotional or ordinary overeating. Importantly, EMS additionally confirmed direct associations with emotional overeating, ordinary overeating, and dietary restraint, suggesting that maladaptive schemas might function cognitive templates for consuming dysregulation. These outcomes converge with prior proof that ER difficulties partly clarify hyperlinks between schemas and consuming pathology [9,47], whereas additionally indicating that schema–consuming associations are predominantly direct quite than broadly mediated by ER deficits.
Indirect pathways from EMS to adiposity by way of dietary restraint and UDI have been statistically vital however very small and restricted to the pathway involving dietary restraint and food plan high quality, indicating that emotion-related processes could also be extra proximal to consuming patterns than to weight standing itself. Longitudinal research equally present that people with elevated ER difficulties are extra susceptible to emotional consuming and poorer food plan high quality, which in flip predict weight acquire over time [12–14]. The current research provides cross-sectional proof from a big grownup pattern displaying comparable patterns throughout each adiposity indicators (BMI and WC), whereas underscoring that impact sizes for oblique hyperlinks to adiposity must be interpreted cautiously. Importantly, the selective and modest mediating function of emotion regulation difficulties noticed within the current research is theoretically per the inclusion of a number of behavioral and way of life pathways inside the identical integrative mannequin. Emotion regulation represents a comparatively proximal mechanism shaping consuming conduct, whereas adiposity indicators akin to physique mass index and waist circumference replicate cumulative, long-term outcomes influenced by a broad constellation of behavioral and contextual elements. When food plan high quality, bodily exercise, and sedentary conduct are modeled concurrently, the contribution of emotion regulation to distal adiposity outcomes is subsequently anticipated to attenuate quite than dominate the general mannequin. In this context, early maladaptive schemas might affect consuming conduct not solely by emotion regulation difficulties, but additionally by way of extra direct cognitive and behavioral pathways, together with self-control, impulsivity, normative beliefs about consuming, and coping methods.
Lifestyle and food plan high quality
An vital contribution of the current research is the simultaneous integration of cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities with way of life behaviors and contextual elements inside a single analytical framework. As hypothesized (H7–H9), emotional overeating, ordinary overeating, and dietary restraint have been linked to greater scores on the UDI, which in flip was related to elevated BMI and WC. These findings recommend that self-reported maladaptive consuming tendencies correspond with precise dietary patterns, strengthening the ecological validity of psychological fashions of consuming. Physical exercise (IPAQ_MET) and sedentary time (Sitting) added additional explanatory worth. Higher bodily exercise was related to decrease adiposity, whereas larger sedentary conduct was associated to greater BMI and WC. These associations align with a big physique of proof emphasizing the twin significance of food plan high quality and bodily exercise for weight outcomes [24,25,48]. Importantly, SEM outcomes indicated that way of life behaviors weren’t merely confounding elements however operated as parallel pathways complementing psychological mechanisms. This multidimensional method highlights that weight problems danger is formed by the intersection of schemas, emotion regulation, stress, social context, and concrete well being behaviors.
Contextual moderators: Stress and social assist
Moderation analyses yielded partial assist for the hypothesized contextual results. Contrary to H4, perceived stress didn’t considerably reasonable the EMS–ER affiliation. This sample means that, though stress is a sturdy correlate of consuming dysregulation and weight acquire in prior work [16,17], its affect might function extra instantly on consuming behaviors quite than by amplifying the EMS–ER hyperlink; comparable null moderation outcomes have been reported elsewhere for schema–emotion and emotion–consuming pathways [49,50]. In distinction, social assist considerably moderated the EMS–ER pathway (H5): greater assist attenuated the EMS–ER hyperlink. Individuals with decrease perceived assist exhibited stronger associations between EMS and ER difficulties, per proof that social ties buffer psychological vulnerability and enhance well being outcomes [51–53], in addition to findings that supportive relationships cut back reliance on maladaptive coping akin to emotional consuming [19]. However, the scale of this interplay impact was small, indicating a refined quite than a pronounced buffering affect. Together, these outcomes spotlight social assist as a important resilience issue able to offsetting dangers related to early maladaptive schemas and underscore the potential of interpersonal and neighborhood assets to mitigate psychological vulnerabilities within the context of weight problems.
Gender and age variations
Consistent with H6, multi-group SEM analyses confirmed that the associations of ER difficulties with each emotional overeating and ordinary overeating have been considerably stronger amongst girls than males. This sample aligns with longstanding proof that ladies are extra susceptible to emotion-driven consuming [50,54] and helps earlier findings from the identical cohort displaying greater schema endorsement and emotional consuming in girls in comparison with males [5]. These outcomes underline the significance of contemplating gender-specific vulnerabilities when designing preventive and therapeutic interventions, as schema- and ER-focused methods could also be significantly related for ladies. No vital age-related variations have been noticed in structural paths. Taken along with prior proof displaying greater imply ranges of schemas and emotional consuming in youthful adults [3,4], this implies that age results could also be extra evident in general vulnerability ranges quite than within the structural interrelations amongst schemas, emotion regulation, and consuming behaviors.
Latent profile evaluation
The latent profile evaluation recognized two distinct lessons representing lower- and higher-risk constellations of psychological, behavioral, and way of life traits. The emergence of a two-class answer is per methodological proof displaying that the quantity and construction of latent profiles are delicate to indicator choice and mannequin specification. In the current evaluation, way of life and contextual indicators—together with food plan high quality, bodily exercise, sedentary conduct, perceived stress, and social assist—have been integrated alongside cognitive–emotional variables, yielding an empirically optimum answer inside the anticipated vary of two to a few profiles.
When these extra indicators have been modeled concurrently with early maladaptive schemas and emotion regulation difficulties, participant profiles polarized into a sturdy high- versus low-risk configuration, with intermediate patterns now not forming a secure class. Instead, people clustered into two clearly differentiated constellations reflecting protecting versus maladaptive patterns throughout cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and way of life domains. This sample means that the inclusion of way of life and contextual variables amplifies danger differentiation, revealing sharper contrasts between profiles than fashions based mostly solely on psychological indicators.
Theoretical contribution and interpretive scope
From a theoretical perspective, the current findings advance integrative fashions of consuming conduct and weight problems by clarifying the selective and context-dependent pathways linking early maladaptive schemas, emotion regulation difficulties, contextual assets, and way of life behaviors. Rather than supporting a common mediational function of emotion regulation, the outcomes point out that cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities function primarily by strong direct associations with consuming behaviors, with solely restricted and pathway-specific oblique results.
Importantly, this sample underscores the excellence between proximal psychological mechanisms shaping consuming conduct and extra distal indicators of adiposity, akin to physique mass index and waist circumference, which replicate the cumulative affect of a number of behavioral, metabolic, and contextual processes over time. When way of life behaviors—together with food plan high quality, bodily exercise, and sedentary conduct—are thought-about alongside cognitive–emotional and social elements, the explanatory function of emotion regulation difficulties is predicted to attenuate quite than dominate the general mannequin.
The current research subsequently contributes to idea by delineating which mechanisms stay salient when psychological vulnerabilities, contextual moderators, and concrete way of life behaviors are examined concurrently inside a single integrative framework. Given the non-random sampling design, these findings must be interpreted as theory-informing quite than population-generalizable. Nevertheless, the outcomes provide a coherent conceptual foundation for understanding how cognitive–emotional, social, and behavioral elements collectively form consuming patterns and adiposity, whereas avoiding overgeneralization past the empirical scope of the pattern.
Limitations
Despite its strengths, a number of limitations must be acknowledged. First, the cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences. All pathways have been modeled and interpreted as associations quite than causal results. Longitudinal and experimental research are wanted to find out whether or not EMS and ER difficulties prospectively relate to adjustments in consuming conduct, food plan high quality, and adiposity. Second, most variables have been assessed by way of self-report, which can be topic to recall and social desirability biases, significantly for dietary consumption and bodily exercise. However, anthropometric outcomes (BMI and WC) have been measured instantly by educated researchers, lowering measurement error for these indices. Including goal measures akin to accelerometry or 24-hour dietary remembers would improve validity. Third, contextual moderators have been restricted to emphasize and social assist; different vital elements akin to socioeconomic standing, sleep, or cultural norms weren’t included. Fourth, whereas the pattern was giant and balanced by age and gender, it was drawn from a single nationwide context, which can restrict generalizability. Additionally, gender was operationalized utilizing a binary classification (girls/males), which doesn’t seize gender variety and will restrict the applicability of the findings to non-binary and gender-diverse populations.
Fifth, though mannequin match indices didn’t attain typical thresholds (CFI/TLI < .90; SRMR = .13), such deviations are widespread in large-sample, multi-domain SEMs that incorporate a number of latent constructs and interplay phrases. Prior methodological work has emphasised that match indices shouldn’t be interpreted rigidly and that theoretical coherence and interpretability are equally important in evaluating SEM options [55,56]. In this context, the retained framework gives a substantively significant and statistically secure illustration of the hypothesized pathways, even when statistical indices should not optimum. Finally, though SEM enabled the testing of mediation, moderation, and group variations, the framework required stepwise analyses quite than a totally built-in mannequin, which can have restricted the power to check all higher-order interactions in a single equation system.
Conclusion
This research demonstrates that early maladaptive schemas are related to maladaptive consuming patterns and adiposity primarily by strong direct relationships, with solely small and selective oblique pathways involving emotion regulation difficulties, dietary restraint, and food plan high quality. Lifestyle behaviors additional accounted for variance in adiposity outcomes, whereas social assist emerged as a modest however constant protecting moderator of the affiliation between schemas and emotion regulation difficulties. Gender-specific patterns have been additionally noticed, with girls exhibiting stronger associations between emotion regulation difficulties and maladaptive consuming behaviors.
Taken collectively, these findings underscore the significance of integrative approaches that contemplate cognitive–emotional vulnerabilities, contextual assets, and concrete way of life behaviors concurrently when inspecting pathways to weight problems. Rather than implicating a single dominant psychological mechanism, the outcomes spotlight the cumulative and interacting contributions of a number of elements, suggesting that efficient prevention and intervention efforts must be multidimensional and context-sensitive.
Implications for follow and coverage
These implications must be interpreted as theory-informed issues quite than direct medical or coverage suggestions. The findings carry a number of implications:
- Theory: Results reinforce schema idea within the area of consuming conduct and weight problems, positioning early maladaptive schemas as transdiagnostic vulnerabilities related to eating-related and adiposity outcomes.
- Clinical follow: Interventions might profit from integrating schema-informed methods (e.g., addressing maladaptive beliefs, enhancing adaptive coping) with emotion regulation expertise coaching and way of life modification. Strengthening social assist might additional improve intervention results.
- Prevention: School- and workplace-based well being packages might incorporate schema-informed psychoeducation, mindfulness-based approaches, and group-based emotion regulation expertise coaching to foster resilience in opposition to maladaptive consuming patterns.
- Policy: Public well being initiatives might profit from addressing psychological vulnerabilities alongside way of life behaviors, embedding schema- and emotion-regulation-informed parts into weight problems prevention methods. Enhancing social assist networks inside communities might signify a scalable protecting useful resource.
- Demographic tailoring: Preventive and intervention efforts must be gender-sensitive, with specific consideration to girls, who demonstrated stronger associations between emotion regulation difficulties and maladaptive consuming behaviors.
These findings are per modern biopsychosocial views emphasizing the dynamic interaction between cognitive–emotional, social, and behavioral processes in well being and illness [57–59]. Overall, the research advances an integrative biopsychosocial mannequin of weight problems, demonstrating how maladaptive schemas and emotion regulation difficulties intersect with stress, social assist, food plan, and bodily exercise in shaping adiposity-related outcomes. This multidimensional perspective might inform extra focused and context-sensitive approaches to prevention and intervention.
Supporting info
S1 Fig. Interaction between early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and perceived social support in relation to difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS).
Values are standardized (z-scores). Lines represent estimated simple slopes at −1 SD (low social support), mean, and +1 SD (high social support).
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0343336.s011
(PDF)
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article%3Fid%3D10.1371/journal.pone.0343336
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us

