Effectiveness of a mindful eating intervention on eating habits of gen-z college students
Keywords:
mindful eating, psychoeducation, eating behavior, college students, Gen-ZAbstract
Background. Generation Z students are vulnerable to academic stress, body dissatisfaction, and maladaptive eating behaviors such as emotional eating. Mindful eating is considered a promising intervention to improve eating patterns through greater self-awareness. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducational mindful eating on eating behaviors among Gen-Z college students.
Methods. A quasi-experimental design was conducted in intervention and control groups. Of 74 recruited participants, 69 students (34 control; 35 intervention) were included in the final analysis. The two-week intervention combined nutrition education, mindful eating practice, and stress management. Eating behavior was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and analyzed with independent t-tests.
Results. Most participants were female (91.18%) and aged 20–22 years. In the intervention group, 97.14% reported normal eating behavior, while 14.71% of the control group still demonstrated abnormal eating patterns. Independent t-test results indicated no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 0.2792), though the intervention group had a lower mean score (M = 6.74) compared to the control group (M = 7.94), reflecting a positive trend toward healthier eating behaviors. Conclusion. Although the psychoeducational mindful eating program did not yield statistically significant improvements, it showed a favorable direction in reducing abnormal eating behaviors. Further research with stronger methodology, extended duration, and structured home practice is recommended to enhance effectiveness
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