Effects of Stress on Eating Practices Among Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between comfort food preferences of adults when under normal (nonstressful) and stressful conditions. A total of 185 university faculty completed on InQsit, a 31‐item Stress‐Eating Survey. Sixty‐seven percent experienced changes in appetite when stressed, with 69% having an increase in appetite and 31% a decrease. Under stressful conditions, participants chose a wider variety of sweet (p ≤ .001) and salty/crunchy foods (p = .004). High‐restrained eaters chose significantly more types of sweet foods (p = .031) and beverages (p = .020) than low‐restrained eaters. Variety of mixed dishes significantly decreased (p = .048) with increased age. This research suggests that majority of adults may experience an increased appetite with stress and may choose more types of sweet and salty/crunchy foods. Under normal and stressful conditions, it appears that gender, age, and restraint level may also influence comfort food choices.

Negative affective stress reactivity: The dampening effect of snacking

“…Daily life research has also demonstrated that increased consumption of hedonic "snack type" products, which are nutrient-dense and high in sugar and fat, may be used in order to cope with the negative emotions associated with daily hassles (Newman, O'Connor, & Conner, 2007;O'Connor et al, 2008). Although studies in other settings confirm these findings (e.g., Cleobury & Tapper, 2014;Gibson, 2006;Groesz et al, 2012;Kandiah, Yake, Jones, & Meyer, 2006;O'Connor et al, 2008;Oliver & Wardle, 1999;Tomiyama, Dallman, & Epel, 2011;Torres & Nowson, 2007;Widaman, Witbracht, Forester, Laugero, & Keim, 2016;Zellner et al, 2006), not all individuals make use of this coping mechanism (e.g., Kandiah, Yake, & Willet, 2008;Macht, 2008). Research has pointed out that snacking may provide comfort or distraction from negative emotions associated with stress (e.g., Christensen, 1993;Gamble, Bava, & Wohlers, 2010;Macht, 2008;Macht & Simons, 2000;Spoor, Bekker, van Strien, & van Heck, 2007;Stice, Presnell, Shaw, & Rohde, 2005).…”

Compliance of a Small Convenience Sample and Efficacy of Short Term Modified Carbohydrate Diet on Weight Loss in Overweight College Students: A Pilot Study

“…Non-compliance of varying CHO dietary regimens by the participants in the present study may be attributed to several factors; 1) demands and stress associated with college life influences food consumption choices and seeking high CHO comfort foods (sweet, chewy, doughy) [22,23]; 2) unpleasant symptoms (lethargy, irritability, hunger and stomach ache) reported by participants from their daily emotional and physical well-being journals led to diversion from prescribed diets ( Table 4); 3) restrictive nature of the diet (30 or 60 grams CHO) when compared to recommended amounts [5]; 4) lack of rapid weight loss; and 5) possibly due to the different lifestyle of the college student. It may have been easier for participants who lived in the dorm or in a confined metabolic unit to comply with the study compared to participants who lived in a house or apartment due to food cost and/or preparation.…”

Eating and stress at work: The need for public health promotion intervention and an opportunity for food product development?

“…This replicated the findings of several previous studies conducted across various cultures. Academic staff (Kandiah, Yake, & Willet, 2008) and factory workers (Ng & Jeffery, 2003) in the USA, civil servants (Toyoshima et al, 2009) and agricultural workers (Tstsumi et al, 2003) in Japan, truck drivers in Brazil (Penteado, Goncalves, da Costa, & Maques, 2008), factory workers in Korea (Park & Jung, 2010) and civil servants in Poland (Potocka & Moscicka, 2011) who experienced stress at work, also tended to report unhealthy dietary patterns. These effects may be exacerbated by shift work (Lowden et al, 2010).…”