Psychological Well-Being as a Mediator Between Meaning in Life and Emotional Eating: Implications for Family Caregivers in Palliative Care

Abstract

Objective

Family members caring for palliative care patients often experience intense emotional and psychological stress, which may lead to maladaptive coping behaviours such as emotional eating. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological well-being in the relationship between meaning in life, search for meaning, and emotional eating among family caregivers.

Method

Data were collected from 234 participants between September and December 2023. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression, and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4) were used for analysis. Variables included age, gender, duration of caregiving, cohabitation status, meaning in life, search for meaning, and psychological well-being.

Results

The mean emotional eating score of participants was 90.33 ± 34.79. Age, female gender, duration of caregiving, cohabitation status, meaning in life, search for meaning, and psychological well-being explained 77.6% of the variance in emotional eating behaviour. Psychological well-being significantly mediated the relationship between meaning in life and emotional eating. Both presence of meaning and search for meaning reduced emotional eating indirectly through enhanced psychological well-being.

Conclusion

Regular assessment of caregivers’ emotional state and the implementation of meaning-oriented interventions that enhance psychological well-being are recommended to support healthier coping strategies. Strengthening psychological resilience and fostering meaning in life may serve as protective pathways against emotional eating in family caregivers during the palliative care process.