Open Access

ARTICLE

A Study on the Effect of Fear of Negative Evaluation on Restrained Eating and Its Intervention among Female College Students

Sisi Li¹, Weijian Fu^1,*, Wenyi Liu^2,*, Nailiang Zhong³

1 Department of Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, 541006, China
2 Department of Psychology, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, China
3 School of Teacher Education, Hechi University, Hechi, 546300, China

* Corresponding Authors: Weijian Fu. Email: ; Wenyi Liu. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health Promotion and Psychosocial Support in Vulnerable Populations: Challenges, Strategies and Interventions)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2025, 27(2), 137-159. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.059866

Received 18 October 2024; Accepted 13 January 2025; Issue published 03 March 2025

Abstract

Background: Restrained eating, often motivated by the desire to control weight, is prevalent among young female college students and is considered a risk factor for eating disorders. Negative evaluation fear, exacerbated by social pressure, peer comparison, and academic stress, has been identified as a potential contributor to restrained eating behavior. However, research exploring the relationship between negative evaluation fear and restrained eating, particularly in the context of self-esteem and physical appearance perfectionism, remains limited. This study aims to investigate these relationships and design an intervention program to reduce restrained eating behaviors in female college students. Methods: Study 1 involved 617 female college students, using the Physical Appearance Perfectionism Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire to measure key variables. We examined the relationships between physical appearance perfectionism, self-esteem, fear of negative evaluation, and restrained eating. In Study 2, a 4-week group psychological intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was implemented with 45 students, divided into experimental, control, and placebo groups. The intervention’s effectiveness was assessed in reducing restrained eating and negative evaluation fear. Results: The study found that fear of negative evaluation significantly predicted restrained eating and physical appearance perfectionism. Physical appearance perfectionism, in turn, positively predicted restrained eating and partially mediated the relationship between negative evaluation fear and restrained eating. Self-esteem moderated this mediation effect. Additionally, the ACT-based intervention significantly reduced fear of negative evaluation and restrained eating behavior in the experimental group. Conclusion: This study identifies fear of negative evaluation and physical appearance perfectionism as key predictors of restrained eating in female college students. Fear of negative evaluation significantly predicted restrained eating, with physical appearance perfectionism partially mediating this relationship. The ACT-based intervention effectively reduced both fear of negative evaluation and restrained eating. These findings highlight the importance of addressing negative evaluation fear and appearance perfectionism in interventions for restrained eating.

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Keywords

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