Impact of Emotionally Evocative Screen Content on Emotional State and Food Selection in Generation Z College Students: A Randomized, Between-Subjects Study

Excessive screen usage and exposure to emotionally charged content are public health concerns because they correlate with emotional eating and weight gain. This study investigated the relationship between emotionally charged screen content, emotional shifts, and subsequent food selection. Seventy-two students were randomized to watch happy, sad, or anxiety-eliciting videos. The Discrete Emotions Questionnaire and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests measured changes in emotion. Following the post-questionnaire, students were invited to select from pre-packaged food items. Correlation analysis examined relationships between emotional change and standardized food selection. Use of TikTok and video streaming platforms was associated with higher odds of overweight (p < 0.05). “Happy” screen content correlated with increases in happiness, satisfaction, liking (p < 0.01), enjoyment, calm, and relaxation (p < 0.05), and a reduction in sadness (p < 0.05) among students. “Sad” screen content was associated with increases in sadness (p < 0.001), grief, dread, and worry (p < 0.05). Positive emotions, such as easygoing, were negatively correlated with savory food selection (r = −0.95, p < 0.05). Loneliness positively correlated with sweet food selections (r = 0.99, p < 0.05). Emotive screen content is associated with emotional shifts that potentially influence food selection. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address emotional eating among college students.