Interactive effects of acute stress and impulsivity in predicting consumption of high-fat sweet food (Conference Abstract)

Psychosocial stress and impulsivity, encompassing reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness, have separately been implicated in motivating approach behaviour to palatable food, thus representing risk factors for overeating and obesity. This study examined the combined and potential interactive effects of these traits and induced acute stress on laboratory snack food consumption. In small groups, participants (N = 108) completed a series of self-report and behavioural measures of impulsivity (reward sensitivity and rash impulsiveness) prior to exposure to a 5-minute stress or relaxation induction. They were then presented a portion of high fat sweet food and completed a foil taste test and a distractor task to allow for consumption beyond experimental requirements. Differential effects were observed for the dimensions of impulsivity, with only rash impulsiveness significantly interacting with induced stress to influence consumption. Unexpected findings for reward sensitivity are discussed in the context of the group testing environment.