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“Maybe it’s Not Just the Food?” A Food and Mood Focus Group Study

Author

Listed:
  • Megan F. Lee

    (Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast 4226, Australia
    Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast 4225, Australia)

  • Douglas Angus

    (Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast 4226, Australia)

  • Hayley Walsh

    (Faculty of Society and Design, Bond University, Gold Coast 4226, Australia)

  • Sally Sargeant

    (Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast 4225, Australia)

Abstract

Epidemiological and intervention studies in nutritional psychiatry suggest that the risk of mood disorders is associated with what we eat. However, few studies use a person-centred approach to explore the food and mood relationship. In this qualitative study of 50 Australian participants, we explored individuals’ experiences with food and mood as revealed during focus group discussions. Using a thematic template analysis, we identified three themes in the food and mood relationship: (i) social context: familial and cultural influences of food and mood , (ii) social economics: time, finance, and food security , and (iii) food nostalgia: unlocking memories that impact mood . Participants suggested that nutrients, food components or food patterns may not be the only way that food impacts mood. Rather, they described the social context of who, with, and where food is eaten, and that time, finances, and access to healthy fresh foods and bittersweet memories of foods shared with loved ones all impacted their mood. Findings suggest that quantitative studies examining the links between diet and mood should look beyond nutritional factors and give increased attention to the cultural, social, economic, and identity aspects of diet.

Suggested Citation

  • Megan F. Lee & Douglas Angus & Hayley Walsh & Sally Sargeant, 2023. "“Maybe it’s Not Just the Food?” A Food and Mood Focus Group Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2011-:d:1043646
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fransisca Hok-Eng Tan, 2013. "Flavours of Thought: Towards A Phenomenology of Food-Related Experiences," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 11(4), pages 400-414.
    2. Megan F. Lee & Joanne F. Bradbury & Jacqui Yoxall & Sally Sargeant, 2023. "“It’s about What You’ve Assigned to the Salad”: Focus Group Discussions on the Relationship between Food and Mood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hayley Walsh & Megan Lee & Talitha Best, 2023. "The Association between Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivore Diet Quality and Depressive Symptoms in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-12, February.

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    1. Megan F. Lee & Joanne F. Bradbury & Jacqui Yoxall & Sally Sargeant, 2023. "“It’s about What You’ve Assigned to the Salad”: Focus Group Discussions on the Relationship between Food and Mood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.

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