Psychology 317 
Psychological Statistics II 
Lab 2 
Chi Square 
Mood and Food 
What is the relationship between one’s mood and the choice of food? 
This question has been asked in 
the context of various research projects (Christenson, 1993). Consumption of a particular food has been 
associated with a particular mood state. 
Lyman (1982) reported that there is an association between 
participants imagining a mood state and their choice of foods. 
Junk foods were chosen more frequently 
when persons were asked to imagine negative mood states (frustration and depression), while healthy 
foods were preferred when happy mood states were imagined (Jacobson, 1975). There is evidence that 
removal of a particular food type, simple carbohydrates, regulates negative mood states more 
effectively than eating simple carbohydrates (Christenson, 1993). The current study investigated food 
choice after inducing different mood states and it is hypothesized that food choice varies as a function 
of mood. 
Method 
Participants 
College students at an HBCU in the Mid- Atlantic region were approached and asked to volunteer for a 
study investigating the relationship between induced mood and choice of food. 
There were 200 
participants, 100 males and 100 females. 
All were 18 or older and signed an informed consent. 
Materials 
Four scenarios were designed to elicit a different mood state, happy, sad, tense and calm. 
Two states 
were positive (happy and calm) and two states were negative (sad and tense). 
To validate the presence 
of the particular mood, the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (Mayer & Gaschke, 1988) was used. 
Food 
choices included junk food (ice cream, chips), healthy food (salad, fruit) or no food. 
Procedure 
Each participant was exposed to one of four scenarios designed to elicit a different mood state, happy, 
sad, tense or calm and their induced mood measured using the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (Mayer & 
Gaschke, 1988). 
Each was then asked to place themselves in the role of the actor in the scenario and 
asked what the actor would most likely eat given the actor’s mood with the choice of junk foods, healthy 
foods or no food. Their choice was recorded and they were thanked for their participation.