Acute stress can boost and buffer hedonic consumption: The role of individual differences in consumer life history strategies

Bob M Fennis,Justina Gineikiene,Dovile Barauskaite,Guido M Van Koningsbruggen

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.111261

Abstract

Mixed findings on the relationship between acute stress and the tendency to engage in hedonic food consumption suggest that stress may both boost and buffer hedonic eating. The present research aims to contribute to reconciling these mixed findings by focusing on the role of individual differences in consumer life history strategies (LHS) –short-term, impulsive, reward-sensitive (fast) vs. long-term, reflective, goal-oriented (slow) self-regulatory strategies– that might drive hedonic eating. We propose and show that stress may boost hedonic consumption among fast LHS consumers, while the relationship is buffered (non-significant) among their slow LHS counterparts. Moreover, we find that this stress-induced eating among fast LHS consumers is also cue-driven such that fast (but not slow) LHS consumers show a higher sensitivity to scarcity cues signaling the desirability of a palatable food under conditions of stress. Finally, we find that a cue indicating a high caloric content of the food may curb the tendency for fast LHS consumers to engage in (over) consumption of hedonic foods under stress.

Highlights

Does experiencing acute stress—the subjective experience of task demands exceeding one’s coping resources (Starcke & Brand, 2016)— trigger hedonic consumption of sugary, or other energy dense foods and beverages? While it may seem evident to assume a straightforward causal link, the association between acute stress and hedonic food consumption is less unequivocal than it may appear
Since we propose that stress may boost the hedonic consumption for fast, but not slow, life history strategies (LHS) con sumers, it may be plausible to assume that individual differences in consumer LHS will moderate the effects of these cues under conditions of stress
Since the previous studies showed that stress boosts the tendency for hedonic consumption for fast, but not slow, LHS consumers, we focus on scarcity cues which previous research has indicated to ‘fit’ these consumers’ self-regulatory focus (Fennis et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Does experiencing acute stress—the subjective experience of task demands exceeding one’s coping resources (Starcke & Brand, 2016)— trigger hedonic consumption of sugary, or other energy dense foods and beverages? While it may seem evident to assume a straightforward causal link, the association between acute stress and hedonic food consumption is less unequivocal than it may appear (see Evers et al, 2018; Hill et al, 2018 for overviews). A recent meta-analysis (Ferrer et al, 2020) suggests that “incidental negative affect” (including acute -but not chronic- stress) may increase various appetitive risk behaviors, including (over)consumption of high caloric, sugary or salty palatable foods. This aligns with results of another meta-analysis that concluded that experimentally induced acute stress (typically induced via demanding tasks, frequently involving time pressure and/or (threat of) negative outcomes) may increase general ized reward sensitivity, rendering the individual more “attuned” to any stimulus that may predict a reward (Starcke & Brand, 2016). Previous research has demonstrated that experiencing acute stress increases hedonic consumption either via

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