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" Maybe it's Not Just the Food? " A Food and Mood Focus Group Study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

" Maybe it's Not Just the Food? " A Food and Mood Focus Group Study

Megan F. Lee, Douglas Angus, Hayley Walsh and Sally Sargeant
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.20(3), 2011
21/01/2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032011
PMID: 36767376
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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0,  Open Access
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Abstract

food mood depression mental health psychological wellbeing qualitative research focus group thematic template analysis
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.

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