A longitudinal examination of palatable eating motives during emerging adulthood

Four motives address reasons people eat palatable foods: to enhance social experiences (social), experience rewarding effects (enhancement), conform to pressure (conformity), or alleviate negative emotions (coping). It is unknown whether motives change following college entry.

College freshmen (N = 103) at a large university.

Participants attended three laboratory visits.

Linear mixed models indicated that enhancement and social motives were significantly lower at the middle (b values = -0.241 to -0.197; p values = .004-.027) and end (b values = -0.326 to -0.239; p values = .003-.022) of year relative to baseline. There were no significant changes in coping or conformity. Some students had significantly higher coping motive endorsement than their peers at baseline (p = < .0001).

Eating motives remained consistent (coping, conformity) or decreased slightly (enhancement, social) during the first college year. Some students entered college with higher-than-average coping motive endorsement, indicating reliance on a maladaptive coping strategy that could be targeted by prevention efforts.