Associations between negative emotions and eating behaviors in older adults: a network analysis and the mediating role of physical activity.

Objective: Negative emotions are a growing public health concern among older adults, influencing both psychological well-being and daily behaviors. This study aimed to examine how negative emotions relate to eating behaviors in older adults and to test the mediating role of physical activity. Methods: Data were collected from 1,062 older adults in China through validated self-report measures. A network analysis was conducted to identify central nodes and bridging indicators between negative emotions and eating behaviors, and a mediation analysis was applied to evaluate the indirect role of physical activity. Results: At the domain level, depression and stress emerged as the most central symptoms, while eating behavior showed the strongest bridging effect. At the item level, irregular eating times (Y1), perceiving life as meaningless (X20), and difficulty relaxing (X5) were highly influential. Mediation analysis indicated that physical activity partially mediated the association between negative emotions and eating behaviors. Conclusion: These findings provide new evidence that negative emotions not only directly but also indirectly shape eating behaviors in older adults by reducing physical activity. Promoting physical activity may help buffer the detrimental impact of negative emotions on eating habits and improve overall well-being. Longitudinal research is recommended to confirm the robustness and generalizability of these findings.