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What’s in your card? The impact of online food delivery apps on depression and eating behaviors
Digitalization, particularly through smartphones and online platforms, has significantly influenced eating habits and psychological health, especially among young adults. This study explores the relationship between the frequency of use of online food delivery (OFD) applications and their impact on eating behaviors and depression levels. A total of 383 participants aged 18–35 years were surveyed, assessing their demographic information, OFD app usage frequency, and attitudes towards these applications. Depression levels were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory, while eating behaviors were measured with the Three-Factor Eating Scale (TFEQ-R21). Results indicated that participants with the lowest frequency of OFD app use (21.2 ± 0.4) exhibited significantly lower uncontrolled eating scores than those with higher use (23.4 ± 0.7 and 23.3 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Furthermore, a notable decrease in cognitive restraint levels was observed as OFD app usage frequency increased (p = 0.031). Additionally, individuals with four to six OFD apps on their phones reported higher depression scores (14.1 ± 1.3) than those who did not use any OFD apps (8.8 ± 1.4; p = 0.025). These findings suggest that the digital food environment may significantly influence both physical health and psychological well-being, as well as behavioral eating patterns among young adults. [NPID: Smartphones, online food delivery, depression, eating behavior]
Year: 2025
