Association between self-objectification and emotional eating among female college students: the sequential indirect role of social comparison and body satisfaction

Background The college years represent a formative period for body image development in young women, and female college students (FCS) have an elevated risk of disordered eating behaviors, including emotional eating. Objective This cross-sectional study explores the relationship between self-objectification and emotional eating in FCS and examines the mediating role of social comparison and body satisfaction. Methods A total of 820 FCS from two comprehensive universities in Yunnan, China, were enrolled. Data were collected in June 2023 using self-report scales: the Trait Self-Objectification Questionnaire, Emotional Eating Subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale, and Body Image States Scale. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Results Self-objectification, emotional eating, and social comparison exhibit significant positive correlations with each other ( r : 0.11–0.33, p < 0.01). Body satisfaction shows significant negative correlations with self-objectification, emotional eating, and social comparison ( r : −0.28 – −0.17, p < 0.01). Social comparison and body satisfaction fully accounted for the association between self-objectification and emotional eating, with effect sizes of 49.90 and 20.34%, respectively. Conclusion Self-objectification can indirectly affect emotional eating through social comparison and body satisfaction.