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Effects of Stress on Eating Practices Among Adults

Ball State University, jkandiah{at}bsu.edu

Melissa Yake

Ball State University

Heather Willett

Ball State University

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.

Key Words: adults • stress • appetite • restraint • food intake • comfort foods

Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1, 27-38 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1077727X08322148


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