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MA Thesis Final_JKuo.pdf (2.82 MB)

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Stress, Eating Behavior, and Mindfulness among College Students

Kuo, Jennifer L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1494270779255547

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Prior literature suggests that people who are subjected to acute stress tend to overeat and make more unhealthy food choices. In addition, more mindful people tend to have better health behaviors. However, past research has not evaluated whether mindfulness moderates the relationship between stress and eating behavior. The current study investigated whether mindfulness protected against stress-related eating behavior. This study explored the relationship between stress and eating behavior among 97 undergraduate women. Participants were randomly assigned to the control condition (n = 54, a reading task and simple arithmetic task), or stress condition (n = 43, a job speech and complex arithmetic task). Afterwards, the women were offered red grapes and M&Ms as part of what was described as a taste test to evaluate total caloric intake and food choice (proportion of M & M servings eaten over total servings eaten). Mindfulness did not predict caloric intake or proportion of M & M servings relative to total servings eaten. Additionally, mindfulness did not moderate the relationship between stress and eating behavior. In contrast to previous studies, women consumed fewer total calories in the stress condition compared to those in the control condition. However, greater decreases in positive affect following the TSST were associated with a higher proportion of M & M servings to total servings. Stress itself influences caloric intake, but affective response to stress can alter food choice by increasing unhealthy food preference. High fat, high sugar diets can lead to obesity, which increases risk for many adverse health conditions. Therefore, identifying protective factors for higher emotional reactivity to stress could improve overall health.
Janice Kiecolt-Glaser (Advisor)
Charles Emery (Committee Member)
Ruchika Prakash (Committee Member)
136 p.
Psychology
Stress, diet, mindfulness

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kuo, J. L. (2017). Stress, Eating Behavior, and Mindfulness among College Students [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1494270779255547

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kuo, Jennifer. Stress, Eating Behavior, and Mindfulness among College Students. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1494270779255547.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kuo, Jennifer. "Stress, Eating Behavior, and Mindfulness among College Students." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1494270779255547

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1494270779255547
8,582
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.