Abstract

It is well established that stress is related to changes in eating patterns. The individual differences model has been widely used to examine the effects of stress on eating behavior in experimental settings. Common trends for gender, dietary restraint, and BMI have been established. The current study investigates the effects of stress on eating patterns in everyday living, while also examining the role of individual differences: gender, dietary restraint, and BMI. Results support past findings that stress leads to changes in food consumption, increase preference for salty flavors, and increased preference for take-out food options. Findings also show evidence that gender significantly influences stress-related eating patterns with regard to frequency of snacking and loss of control over eating. Collectively, findings provide valuable information for health care professionals and suggest potential key targets for stress-related food consumption interventions.