Lockdown’s Impact on Stress Eating: New Study Challenges Assumptions
Vienna: A study by researchers from the University of Vienna has shed new light on the impact of stress, mood, and social interactions on unhealthy eating habits during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Contrary to prior assumptions, findings suggest that negative mood and reduced social interactions were linked to a decrease in unhealthy food consumption and enjoyment.
The study, conducted on nearly 800 participants from Austria, Italy, and Germany, found that while unhealthy meals helped maintain a positive emotional state and reduced stress, they were not effective in improving a negative mood. These results challenge the widely held belief that stress and social isolation drive people toward unhealthy eating habits.
Led by psychologists Ana Stijovic and Giorgia Silani from the University of Vienna, the research has been published in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Previous studies had linked COVID-19 lockdowns to increased unhealthy eating behaviors, though the psychological mechanisms behind these behaviors remained unclear. This new study aimed to analyze the relationship between momentary stress, mood, social interactions, and food consumption in everyday life.
The research team collected data from participants over a seven-day period, recording multiple daily reports on stress levels, mood, cravings for high-sugar, high-fat, and high-salt foods, actual consumption, enjoyment of such foods, and the quality of social interactions. Participants were surveyed on their intake of foods such as chocolate, crisps, fast food, sweets, and cheese. The findings contradicted previous theories, revealing that positive mood and increased social interactions were associated with greater consumption and enjoyment of unhealthy food, while negative mood and limited social contact led to reduced consumption.
Associate Professor Giorgia Silani of the University of Vienna emphasized the social aspect of eating, noting that shared meals play a crucial role in fostering social bonds. “Eating together is an important social activity that often involves a greater quantity of food than when eating alone,” Silani explained. The study also found that reduced social interactions correlated with lower engagement in other rewarding activities, such as watching television or smoking.
Additionally, the research highlighted that while unhealthy food consumption was linked to stress reduction and increased calmness, it was primarily used to sustain an already positive mood rather than to alleviate a negative one. These findings underscore the complex psychological and social dynamics that influence eating behaviors, particularly during periods of isolation and uncertainty.
