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Zhou H, Wu AMS, Su X, Chang L, Chen JH, Zhang MX, Tong KK. Childhood environment and adulthood food addiction: Testing the multiple mediations of life history strategies and attitudes toward self. Appetite 2023; 182:106448. [PMID: 36608768 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Food addiction is associated with both physical and mental health conditions, such as obesity and depression, and is considered a public health problem. Based on life history (LH) theory, this study aimed to test the association between unpredictable childhood environment and food addiction in adulthood and to examine LH strategies and attitudes toward self as psychological mediators of this association. A random sample of 1010 adults, aged from 18 to 88 years (44.8% male; Mage = 38.52, SDage = 14.53), voluntarily participated in an anonymous telephone survey conducted in Macao, China. The results of a path analysis showed the significant and positive direct effect of childhood unpredictability on food addiction and its negative association with slow LH strategy, which in turn was negatively correlated with food addiction. In addition, slow LH strategy and self-judgment, rather than self-kindness, acted as serial mediators in the association between childhood unpredictability and food addiction. These findings support the applicability of LH theory to understanding food addiction, as well as pointing to the potential risk effect of self-judgment for food addiction in adulthood. Self-judgment reduction may be a potential supplementary approach for future food addiction intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhou
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Anise M S Wu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Xiaoyu Su
- School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Chang
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Juliet Honglei Chen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Institute of Collaborative Innovation, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Meng Xuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Humanities, School of Humanities, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kwok Kit Tong
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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Fennis BM. Self-control, self-regulation, and consumer wellbeing: A life history perspective. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 46:101344. [PMID: 35447392 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This review synthesizes recent research on consumer self-control, self-regulation, and wellbeing using a perspective rooted in evolutionary theorizing-the notion of Life History Strategies (LHSs), derived from Life History Theory. We discuss both correlational and experimental research that has informed our understanding about how individual differences in LHSs may shape the 'self-regulatory toolkit' and how this, in turn, affects downstream consequences for consumer health and wellbeing. We also offer a counterpoint to the prevailing notion that fast LHSs mostly have negative, and slow LHSs positive consequences and we highlight promising future avenues to boost fast LHS consumers' self-control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob M Fennis
- Department of Marketing, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
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