Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19?
During the last year, feelings of anxiety and depression were registered among the Italian population and affected food consumption. Among the research that explored people’s dietary inclinations during the current pandemic, no previous studies have explored psychological factors associated with the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/4/513 |
| _version_ | 1797480355853238272 |
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| author | Mariarosaria Savarese Greta Castellini Lorenzo Morelli Guendalina Graffigna |
| author_facet | Mariarosaria Savarese Greta Castellini Lorenzo Morelli Guendalina Graffigna |
| author_sort | Mariarosaria Savarese |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the last year, feelings of anxiety and depression were registered among the Italian population and affected food consumption. Among the research that explored people’s dietary inclinations during the current pandemic, no previous studies have explored psychological factors associated with the “free-from” dietary pattern. Our study is aimed at understanding if free-from food consumption orientations can be associated with negative psychological distress. We conducted a web-based survey between 27/10/2020–03/12/2020 on a representative sample of 963 Italians. Psychometric scales and ad hoc items were used to measure people’s levels of anxiety, depression, fear for contagion and consumption orientation towards “free-from” foods. Of the sample, 18.2% frequently purchased gluten-free food products and 22.5% purchased lactose-free foods. Most of the population (44.1%) feels very at risk of contagion from COVID-19 and suffers from anxiety (52.8%) and depression (55.0%). Free-from consumers are more anxious, depressed, have higher risk of contagion, and are younger than the non-consumers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, free-from foods can represent for the people a way to restore control over their lifestyle, which was denied during the emergency. However, we highlight possible negative long-term effects of this dietary choice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:58:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c48c49c56bb4ea483b75a9e127667a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:58:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c48c49c56bb4ea483b75a9e127667a42023-11-23T19:53:04ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-02-0111451310.3390/foods11040513Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19?Mariarosaria Savarese0Greta Castellini1Lorenzo Morelli2Guendalina Graffigna3EngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, ItalyEngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, ItalyFaculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 26100 Cremona, ItalyEngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, ItalyDuring the last year, feelings of anxiety and depression were registered among the Italian population and affected food consumption. Among the research that explored people’s dietary inclinations during the current pandemic, no previous studies have explored psychological factors associated with the “free-from” dietary pattern. Our study is aimed at understanding if free-from food consumption orientations can be associated with negative psychological distress. We conducted a web-based survey between 27/10/2020–03/12/2020 on a representative sample of 963 Italians. Psychometric scales and ad hoc items were used to measure people’s levels of anxiety, depression, fear for contagion and consumption orientation towards “free-from” foods. Of the sample, 18.2% frequently purchased gluten-free food products and 22.5% purchased lactose-free foods. Most of the population (44.1%) feels very at risk of contagion from COVID-19 and suffers from anxiety (52.8%) and depression (55.0%). Free-from consumers are more anxious, depressed, have higher risk of contagion, and are younger than the non-consumers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, free-from foods can represent for the people a way to restore control over their lifestyle, which was denied during the emergency. However, we highlight possible negative long-term effects of this dietary choice.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/4/513clean eatingconsumer psychology COVID-19free-from food consumption |
| spellingShingle | Mariarosaria Savarese Greta Castellini Lorenzo Morelli Guendalina Graffigna Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? Foods clean eating consumer psychology COVID-19 free-from food consumption |
| title | Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? |
| title_full | Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? |
| title_fullStr | Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? |
| title_short | Can “Free-From” Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19? |
| title_sort | can free from food consumption be a signal of psychological distress during covid 19 |
| topic | clean eating consumer psychology COVID-19 free-from food consumption |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/4/513 |
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