Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Applied Psychology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Anna Baker
Committee Member
Dr. Brooke Bennett
Committee Member
Dr. Irene Pericot-Valverde
Abstract
Intuitive eating (IE) is an anti-diet approach focused on listening to internal hunger and fullness cues and is associated with reduced disordered eating patterns and improved dietary intake. However, anxiety negatively impacts IE. Dispositional mindfulness (DM) – one’s innate, present-centered, nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations – is associated with lower anxiety and greater IE. Yet, whether DM mitigates the negative impact of anxiety on IE remains underexplored. Grounded in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Framework, this study aimed to: 1) examine the relationship between anxiety and IE, 2) examine the relationship between DM and IE, 3) examine whether DM moderates the anxiety-IE relationship, and 4) explore whether specific DM facets serve as moderators. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via Prolific with English-speaking U.S. adults (N = 396). Participants completed validated measures: Intuitive Eating Scale-3, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire. Anxiety was negatively associated with IE (r = -.15, p = .002). DM was positively associated with IE (r = 0.43, p < .001). DM did not significantly moderate the anxiety-IE relationship (β = –.00, p = .54), nor did the facets of DM. Though DM does not buffer anxiety’s impact on IE, DM is consistently associated with greater IE overall. These findings highlight DM's potential for interventions targeted at enhancing IE behaviors.
Recommended Citation
Signorelli, Jordan, "Anxiety and Intuitive Eating: Examining Dispositional Mindfulness as a Protective Factor" (2026). All Theses. 4791.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4791
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0007-3341-0996