The Relationship Between Boredom, Working Memory, and Problem-Solving with Food Craving: A Study of Overweight Individuals

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between boredom, working memory, and problem-solving with food craving in overweight individuals.

This fundamental and correlational study was conducted through a survey method. The statistical population included adults aged 17 to 70 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher. Data collection tools included the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T), the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS), the Heppner Problem-Solving Inventory (PSI), and the Daneman and Carpenter Working Memory Test. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, and stepwise regression analysis.

Results indicated a positive and significant correlation between boredom and food craving, and a negative and significant correlation between working memory, problem-solving, and food craving. Working memory alone predicted 15% of the variance in food craving. With the addition of boredom and problem-solving, the explained variance increased to 21%. Furthermore, including age and gender in the model raised the explained variance to 32%.

The findings suggest that working memory, problem-solving skills, and boredom significantly predict food craving, and age and gender further enhance these predictive relationships. These results can inform psychological interventions aimed at controlling food cravings among overweight individuals.