Investigating the relationship between Depression and eating behavior in students of Jundishapur University of Ahvaz and Shahid Chamran university

Mortazavi, Seyedeh Taravat; Mortazavi, Seyedeh Yekta; Bayat, Mohammad Parsa; Rahim Nezhad, Ali; Jafarirad, Sima

doi:10.22118/jsmj.2026.558887.4078

Investigating the relationship between Depression and eating behavior in students of Jundishapur University of Ahvaz and Shahid Chamran university

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyedeh Taravat Mortazavi ¹

Seyedeh Yekta Mortazavi ¹

Mohammad Parsa Bayat ¹

Ali Rahim Nezhad ¹

Sima Jafarirad ²

¹ Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

² Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

10.22118/jsmj.2026.558887.4078

Abstract

Abstract

Background and Objective: Eating behavior is one of the factors that affects the quality and quantity of food intake and consequently influences human health. This behavior may be influenced by depression, a common mental health disorder that significantly affects individuals’ emotional and psychological well-being. Given the notable prevalence of depression among students, this study sought to examine the association between depression and eating behavior in students at Jundishapur University of Ahvaz and Shahid Chamran University.
Materials and Methods: A total of 225 participants completed the Personal Information Questionnaire, the Eating Behavior Questionnaire (which assesses eating behavior and classifies it into emotional, external, and restrained eating), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II.
Findings: The results showed no significant difference in eating behavior between students at the two universities, while the difference in depression levels approached statistical significance (p = 0.05). A significant positive association was found between depression and external eating behavior (p = 0.005), while the association with emotional eating behavior was marginally significant (p = 0.056). No significant relationship was observed between depression and restrained eating behavior.
Conclusion: This study examined the relationship between depression and eating behavior. It appears that controlling and treating depression can improve eating behaviors and, consequently, overall health.

Keywords: Eating behavior patterns, Depression, Student

Keywords

Keywords: Eating behavior patterns

Depression

Student