The relationships between social media exposure, food craving, cognitive impulsivity and cognitive restraint

Plain English summary Young adults are increasingly using social media to share images, videos and opinions on a wide range of areas including food. Young people discuss recipes tips, nutritional opinions or specific diet advice. Online platforms expose young people to a set of contradictory data, often generalist, and non-individualized advice that can create the feeling of being overwhelmed by information. This study aimed to understand the potential impact of this increasingly frequent exposure to social media on eating behaviors of young adults. The results showed that longer exposure times to social media were indirectly linked to an irrepressible urge to eat via increased impulsivity. High impulsivity scores were also indirectly related to food craving via food restriction. A better understanding of the links between social media, food craving and eating behaviors could help researchers and clinicians to better guide young adults in their use and appropriation of social media food contents. By knowing more precisely the processes at work behind exposure to social media, it can become possible to undertake awareness actions in order to prevent the development of subsequent eating issues. Background Young adults are increasingly exposed to social media and their image/video-based activities. They use these platforms to share images, videos and advice in different fields like food and nutrition with: recipe ideas, nutritional opinions or specific diets. Along with the rise of digital technologies, the prevalence of eating disorders in young adults continues to grow. The present study analyzes the psychological and eating processes through which exposure to social media may lead to the development of food craving and problematic eating behaviors. Methods A total of 103 young adult men (n = 15) and women (n = 88) answered questionnaires measuring their impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale), eating habits (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire), food craving (Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced), and time exposure to social media. Results The results showed two significant serial mediations. We found a correlational link between time exposure to social media and food craving scores. This positive relation is indirectly mediated by cognitive impulsivity. We also found a positive correlation between cognitive impulsivity and food craving scores that was mediated by cognitive restraint. Conclusion A better understanding of the existing links between social media, food craving and eating behaviors such as cognitive restraint could help researchers and clinicians to better guide young adults in their use and appropriation of social media food contents.