Özlem ÇETİNER, Nurcan YABANCI AYHAN
Addicta The Turkish Journal On Addictions - 2026;13(3):384-391
Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, inappetence in the morning, increased energy intake after dinner, and nocturnal awakenings with the motivation to eat. Certain behavioral addictions, such as internet addiction (IA) and social media addiction (SMA), may contribute to the onset of NES by leading to changes in sleep patterns and eating habits. This cross-sectional study investigates the association between IA, SMA, and NES among university students. Six hundred and eighty-six university students, aged between 19 and 24 years, were questioned regarding their habits that may be associated with NES, IA, and SMA using validated tools in a web-based questionnaire. The relationships between the targeted variables were tested using logistic regression models. After controlling for confounding factors, a high score above the cut-off for IA (OR [95% CI]:2.92 [1.75 - 4.86]) and a high score above the cut-off for SMA (OR [95% CI]:1.69 [1.06 - 2.68]), were identified as potential risk factors associated with having NES. Prevention efforts targeting IA- and SMA-related NES may attenuate NES-related long-term health issues among university students.
