Date of Award

Fall 2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Psychology

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Terry Pettijohn

Abstract/Description

Research has demonstrated stress leads to consuming foods of lower nutritional quality as well as a greater quantity of foods. Visual primes have been shown to reduce these detrimental eating behaviors. The present study sought to determine if a fitbit would prime healthy eating behaviors in stressful situations. Participants (N = 41) were randomly assigned to a high or low stress condition, manipulated through the Stroop Test, and were either given a fitbit prime or not. Participant’s food preferences were assessed with the Macronutrient Preference Checklist- Modified for use in North America following the stress manipulation. The results generally did not support the hypothesis that participants with a fitbit prime would make healthier eating choices. The main effect of fitbit on total foods selected was marginally significant, such that participants who had the fitbit chose more foods than the participants not wearing a fitbit. Reasons for this unexpected trend as well as considerations for future studies are discussed.

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