The effect of screen use while eating on emotions: A lab-based experimental study on the moderating role of emotional valence of videos

Screen use while eating (or food consumption during screen use) has become increasingly prevalent among young Chinese adults. Existing research has established that food consumption and screen use influence emotions, yet the effects of screen use during eating on emotional experiences remain largely unexplored. The present study, using a controlled laboratory experiment, examined the relationships between screen use while eating and changes in emotion, as well as the role of the emotional valence of screen content in moderating these relationships. A total of 88 Chinese university students (21.6% male; mean age = 20.47 years) were randomly assigned to a positive, negative, or neutral video condition while freely eating snacks. Participants rated their emotional states on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and after the video-watching session. Results showed that negative emotions decreased across three conditions, while positive emotions were unaffected. Higher food intake during screen use was associated with greater improvements in positive emotions only during negative video viewing in the full sample. Hierarchical regression analysis further revealed that, among females, positive video content significantly strengthened the positive relationship between food intake and positive emotions, while also strengthening the negative relationship between food intake and negative emotions. Findings align with mood congruency theory and highlight that the emotion-enhancing effects of food consumption during screen use may be context-dependent.