Abstract
This study explores relationships between experiences of embodiment and intuitive eating, and with the psychological resources of life satisfaction, affect, optimism, and self-compassion. A central aim is to increase understanding of positive dimensions of embodiment, eating behaviour, and wellbeing beyond a deficit-based framework and is the first to quantitatively explore experiences of embodiment and intuitive eating. Experience of embodiment describes phenomenological experiences regarding existing within a body within socio-cultural environments. Intuitive eating represents a positive relationship with eating on the opposite side of the spectrum to disordered eating. A community sample of women (n = 278; mage 34.9 ± 11.8 years; 81% Caucasian) completed measures of experiences of embodiment, intuitive eating, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, optimism, and self-compassion. Experiences of embodiment were significantly correlated with intuitive eating and all psychological resources. Only intuitive eating, satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect, and pessimism contributed to a significant unique portion of the variance when intuitive eating, satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect, optimism and pessimism, self-compassion, and age were included in a model predicting experiences of embodiment. All intuitive eating subscales were significantly correlated with experiences of embodiment. Two intuitive eating subscales uniquely predicted experiences of embodiment in multiple linear regression modelling: Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons and Body-Food Choice Congruence. This greater understanding of relationships between embodiment, intuitive eating, and psychological resources expands our understanding of women’s embodied realities and strengthens the argument for integrating an embodiment lens in psychology, public heath, and social discourse.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Thank you to our participants and to foundational researchers for helping us learn about and prioritize the embodied experiences of women.
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Martha Munroe: Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, writing original draft; Zach Staffell: data curation, formal analysis, writing – review and editing; Paige Coyne: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing – review and editing; Jaclyn Ruta: resources; Sarah J Woodruff: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, investigation, writing-review and editing, supervision.
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Munroe, M., Staffell, Z., Coyne, P. et al. Exploring relationships between embodiment, intuitive eating, and psychological resources with a community sample of women. Curr Psychol 43, 13565–13574 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05383-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05383-6