Relationship among psychological distress, food dependence, and the time discount rate: a pilot mediation analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Psychological distress (PD) was shown to be associated with food dependence and higher time discount rate; however, few studies have clarified the relationship among these three variables. To clarify whether time discount rate mediated a relationship between food dependence and PD. In this study, the subjects were 91. We evaluated food dependence scores and time discount rate using self-administered questionnaires as well as PD using K6 questionnaires. Simple correlation and mediation analyses were performed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to clarify relationships among PD, food dependence, and time discount rate. By SEM, a significant relationship was found between food dependence and K6 scores (standardized coefficient (β)=0.341, p=0.001). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between food dependence scores and time discount rate (β=0.345, p=0.001) as well as between time discount rate and K6 scores (β=0.419, p<0.001). By having time discount rate as a parameter, the correlation coefficients between food dependence and K6 scores varied between 0.341 (p=0.001) and 0.197 (p=0.045). After bootstrapping, 0 was not included in the 99% confidence interval [0.013, 0.139]. Time discount rate may mediate the relationship between food dependence and PD. To improve PD, food dependence as well as time discount rate should be reduced.