Association Between Negative Emotional States and Unhealthy Nutritional Behaviors in Soldiers

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between food consumption behaviors and measures indicative of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and negative emotional states, including depression, anxiety, and stress. Soldiers (N = 351) preparing to deploy from Fort Hood completed a series of self-report measures. Those with higher stress and anxiety had less healthy nutritional consumption habits, including eating significantly more fast food and sweets. Further, those with high anxiety ate more when in serious pain than those with low anxiety. In conclusion, soldiers with higher levels of stress and anxiety had a greater risk for less healthy diet quality, which can influence overall health and well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Eating behavior
• emotional state
• soldiers
• nutrition
• PTSD
• anxiety
• stress
• depression
• diet
• health

Funding

This work was supported by the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command through award W81XWH-11-2-0470.