Abstract

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic induced psychological distress, which is linked to emotional eating and symptoms of addiction to ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether symptoms of addiction to UPFs mediate the relationship between psychological stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating behaviour.

Methods

A cross-sectional online study was conducted from May to November 2021 among 368 undergraduate Brazilian students. The participants answered demographic questions and completed validated scales, including the Coronavirus Stress Measure, Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and Emotional Eating Questionnaire. Mediation analysis was employed to examine the hypothesised relationships.

Results

The results revealed a significant indirect effect, indicating that symptoms of food addiction mediated the association between perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and emotional eating behaviour. Specifically, 61% of the influence of perceived stress on emotional eating during the pandemic was explained by symptoms of UPF addiction.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that addressing symptoms of UPF addiction could be pivotal in public health strategies aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among distressed undergraduate students in the post-COVID-19 era.

Details

Title
Addiction to ultra-processed foods as a mediator between psychological stress and emotional eating during the COVID-19 pandemic
Author
Stariolo, Jasmin B. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lemos, Thayane C. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Khandpur, Neha 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Pereira, Mirtes G. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; de Oliveira, Leticia 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Mocaiber, Izabela 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ramos, Taiane C. 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; David, Isabel A. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

1  Universidade Federal Fluminense, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute, Niterói, Brazil (GRID:grid.411173.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2184 6919) 
2  Universidade de São Paulo, Department of Nutrition, Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health, São Paulo, Brazil (GRID:grid.11899.38) (ISNI:0000 0004 1937 0722); Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Department of Nutrition, Boston, USA (GRID:grid.38142.3c) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 754X) 
3  Institute of Humanities and Health, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Laboratory of Cognitive Psychophysiology, Department of Natural Sciences, Rio das Ostras, Brazil (GRID:grid.411173.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2184 6919) 
4  Computer Institute, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Department of Computer Science, Niterói, Brazil (GRID:grid.411173.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2184 6919) 
Pages
39
Publication year
2024
Publication date
Dec 2024
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
ISSN
01027972
e-ISSN
16787153
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-024-00322-1
ProQuest document ID
3106563774
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.