# Craving under pressure: the interplay between hedonic hunger, mental health, and ultra-processed food consumption in shift-workers

## TL;DR

Shift workers with higher stress and hedonic hunger tend to consume more ultra-processed foods.

## Contribution

This study identifies hedonic hunger and psychological distress as key drivers of ultra-processed food consumption in shift-workers.

## Key findings

- 63.2% of participants were high-level ultra-processed food consumers.
- Hedonic hunger correlated positively with ultra-processed food intake and psychological distress.
- Stress mediated the relationship between hedonic hunger and ultra-processed food consumption.

## Abstract

Shift-work is linked to irregular eating patterns and greater ultra-processed food (UPF) intake, potentially driven by hedonic hunger and psychological distress. This study aimed to examine the relationship between hedonic hunger, UPF consumption, and mental health among shift-working healthcare professionals.

In this cross-sectional analytical observational study, 326 healthcare shift-workers (66.9% female) completed questionnaires including sociodemographic details, the Power of Food Scale (PFS-Tr), the Single-Item Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the short screening questionnaire for highly processed food consumption (sQ-HPF).

63.2% were categorized as high-level UPF consumers. PFS-Tr scores correlated positively with UPF intake, FCQ, depression, stress, and anxiety. Hedonic hunger was significantly associated with UPF consumption directly (β = 0.112) and indirectly through stress (β = 0.209).

Hedonic hunger was associated with UPF intake in shift-workers through psychological distress and food motivation.