The perceived function of eating is changed during examination stress: a field study

Changes of eating in response to a real life stressor were examined in field study using a control group design with pre- and posttest. Students (n=22) awaiting an exam and control subjects (n=20) were assessed 3-4 weeks and 3-4 days before the exam. They were given a pager, which beeped ten times a day at random intervals. Upon each signal, participants rated their emotional state and motivations to eat. If they had eaten since the last signal they reported the perceived function of their actual eating behavior. Compared to control subjects, students awaiting an exam reported higher emotional stress and an increased tendency to eat in order to distract themselves from stress. Results indicate that emotion regulation through eating is experienced in a student population during stress under real life conditions with distraction as a possible mediating mechanism.