Summary: When people engage in media multitasking activities that make them feel good, they are more prone to select healthier snacks, a new study reports.

Source: Michigan State University.

Using multiple screen devices simultaneously while snacking may influence food choices, according to a new Michigan State University study.

Specifically, when people engage in media multitasking that makes them feel good, they’re more prone to eat healthy, said Anastasia Kononova, assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, who led the study.

One such example: shopping online while watching television and texting.

For the study, now published in Computers in Human Behavior, 140 participants watched an episode of “Two and a Half Men,” without any scenes that included food and eating, so that eating behaviors weren’t influenced. Commercials were also carefully selected to avoid those advertising food or drinks.

There were four groups of participants who followed one of four scenarios: watching TV only; watching TV and texting; watching TV, texting, reading an article online and filling out a quiz; and watching TV, texting and shopping online. Each participant had a choice of healthy snacks – almonds, grape tomatoes and carrots – or unhealthy snacks – potato chips, chocolates and candy.

The third scenario, involving an online article and quiz, was rated the most difficult and the least enjoyable combination. Participants in this group ate 32 percent more unhealthy snacks than healthy snacks. In general, most people in this group picked only one healthy snack and two junk food snacks.

However, the group that watched TV, texted and shopped online consumed, on average, 26 percent more healthy snacks than unhealthy.

And those who only watched TV ate the most of both types of snacks.

“Media multitasking can affect rationalization process,” Kononova said. “Our main finding was that people like some media multitasking situations and hate others. And, when using multiple screens makes people feel stressed or overwhelmed, they eat worse.”

It could be that unpleasant media multitasking increases cognitive load, so it’s harder for people to have control over snack selection and rationalize with themselves about healthy eating, Kononova said. It could also be “stress eating,” during which people experience unpleasant feelings and turn to more pleasant foods.

“The findings of this study could be useful for parents, educators and other caregivers who might want to discourage media multitasking among young people in their care,” she said. “At the same time, not every form of multitasking seems to be harmful for one’s diet. If you enjoy using multiple screens together, it might actually help your food choices.”

The study is especially relevant since most young people use multiple screens at a time (TV, phone and laptop), Kononova said.

About this neuroscience research article

Co-authors of the study are Anna McAlister, from the Curtis L. Gerrish School of Business, Endicott College, and Hyun Jung Oh, from the Department of Health and Strategic Communication, CHA University, South Korea.

Source: Anastasia Kononova – Michigan State University

Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.

Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.

Original Research: Abstract in Computers in Human Behavior.

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.10.042

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]Michigan State University “Multiple Screen Use Affects Snack Choices.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 19 March 2018.

<https://neurosciencenews.com/snacking-screens-8663/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]Michigan State University (2018, March 19). Multiple Screen Use Affects Snack Choices. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved March 19, 2018 from https://neurosciencenews.com/snacking-screens-8663/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]Michigan State University “Multiple Screen Use Affects Snack Choices.” https://neurosciencenews.com/snacking-screens-8663/ (accessed March 19, 2018).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

Abstract

Screen overload: Pleasant multitasking with screen devices leads to the choice of healthful over less healthful snacks when compared with unpleasant multitasking

This study explored the effects of media multitasking on the choice and consumption of snack foods. Participants in four experimental conditions used either one medium or several media while having access to healthful and energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) snacks. Participants who snacked during the study were more likely to pick and eat EDNP snacks. Fewer healthful than EDNP snacks were chosen and eaten in TV/texting/online reading condition, which was rated more negatively than the other three conditions. The more positively a media use situation was evaluated, the more healthful snacks participants chose and ate. The findings are discussed using the theoretical perspectives of limited capacity and cognitive load, self-regulation and regulatory focus, and approach-avoidance system. The cognitive and emotional nature of each media use condition was considered to explain the results.

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