Changes in food consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a dual process approach on female college students in China

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate changes in food consumption during the COVID-19 lockdown period in a sample of female college students in China. The study employed a dual processing approach that simultaneously investigates the effects of students' beliefs about the importance of healthy eating and the effect of emotional eating due to anxiety induced by the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 645 female college students in China using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used for the data analysis.FindingsBeliefs about the importance of healthy eating have a greater impact on changes in food consumption than anxiety. Emotional eating was positively associated with changes in vegetable consumption. The findings reveal that a shift from "food as health" to "food as well-being" in the role of food in the food-related life of Chinese consumers is underway. "Food as health" remains important in food-related decision-making in China during the pandemic. Concurrently, a well-being centered or a more holistic perspective, including the psychological and emotional aspects of food, should be included in food-related research and health promotion in China.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic by simultaneously investigating both the cognitive impact of beliefs regarding the importance of healthy eating and the affective impact of anxiety on changes in food consumption due to COVID-19.