Mindful Construal Reflections: Reducing Unhealthier Eating Choices

Hussain, Misba and Egan, Helen and Keyte, Rebecca and Mantzios, Michail (2021) Mindful Construal Reflections: Reducing Unhealthier Eating Choices. Mindfulness. ISSN 1868-8527

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Abstract

Objectives
Regularly choosing unhealthy energy-dense foods can have negative health consequences. The present study tested whether a mindful eating–specific tool, namely Mindful Construal Reflection (MCR), would promote healthier eating behaviors.

Methods
Eighty-five university students were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness or control condition and were served M&Ms and grapes as an unhealthy and healthy option respectively.

Results
Participants in the mindfulness condition consumed significantly less M&Ms than those in the control condition, but no significant differences were found in the consumption of grapes between the two conditions. Furthermore, control participants ate significantly more M&Ms when displaying some hunger compared to those presenting no hunger, and although participants in the mindfulness condition also ate more when displaying some hunger, this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions
Together, these results suggest that the MCR may be effective in reducing consumption of unhealthy energy-dense foods. However, future research is warranted in developing the MCR to encourage consumption of healthier food options.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-021-01638-0
Dates:
DateEvent
21 April 2021Accepted
5 May 2021Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: Mindfulness, Mindful concrete construals, Food choice, Healthy eating, Unhealthy eating
Subjects: CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific)
Divisions: Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences > Dept. Psychology
Depositing User: Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited: 26 May 2021 12:24
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2022 11:38
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/11677

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