Bidirectional associations between affect and food craving within and between individuals: A mega-analysis
Matthias Burkard Aulbach1, Christoph Bamberg1, Julia Reichenberger2
1Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Hellbrunner Str. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
Appetite
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Emotional and stress eating are complex. This study found affect and food craving interact closely in real-time, but self-report questionnaires have limited predictive validity in naturalistic settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- The prevalence and assessment of emotional eating and stress eating are debated.
- Existing research often relies on self-report questionnaires, which may not capture real-world eating behaviors accurately.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between affect (emotions) and food craving using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).
- To examine the temporal ordering of affect and craving.
- To assess the moderating role of eating styles on the affect-craving relationship.
Main Methods:
- A mega-analysis of 8 ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies with 764 participants.
- Participants completed daily questionnaires for 7-20 days, assessing affect and food craving.
- Trait-level eating style questionnaire scores were analyzed as moderators.
Main Results:
- Both negative (boredom, stress) and positive affect were associated with increased food craving.
- Affect and craving exhibited bidirectional temporal relationships, with affect preceding or co-occurring with craving.
- Eating style questionnaires moderated concurrent but not prospective affect-craving relationships.
Conclusions:
- Affect and food craving interact closely in temporal proximity in daily life.
- Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) provides valuable insights into real-time affect-craving dynamics.
- The predictive validity of traditional eating style questionnaires in naturalistic contexts is limited, suggesting a need for refined terminology and assessment methods.
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