Craving under pressure: the interplay between hedonic hunger, mental health, and ultra-processed food consumption in shift-workers.

The majority of shift-working healthcare professionals were categorized as high-level ultra-processed food consumers.

• 63.2% of the 326 participants were categorized as high-level UPF consumers.
• The sample was 66.9% female.
• Participants were healthcare shift-workers who completed the short screening questionnaire for highly processed food consumption (sQ-HPF).
• The study used a cross-sectional analytical observational design.

Hedonic hunger scores correlated positively with ultra-processed food intake, food choice motivation, and all three mental health indicators.

• Power of Food Scale (PFS-Tr) scores correlated positively with UPF intake as measured by sQ-HPF.
• PFS-Tr scores also correlated positively with Single-Item Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) scores.
• Positive correlations were found between PFS-Tr and depression, stress, and anxiety as measured by DASS-21.
• The study measured depression, anxiety, and stress using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21).

Hedonic hunger was directly associated with ultra-processed food consumption in shift-workers.

• The direct association between hedonic hunger and UPF consumption had a standardized coefficient of β = 0.112.
• This direct pathway was statistically significant.
• Hedonic hunger was assessed using the Power of Food Scale (PFS-Tr).

Hedonic hunger was indirectly associated with ultra-processed food consumption through stress as a mediator.

• The indirect pathway from hedonic hunger to UPF consumption through stress had a standardized coefficient of β = 0.209.
• The indirect effect through stress was larger in magnitude than the direct effect (β = 0.209 vs. β = 0.112).
• Stress was identified as a significant mediator in the relationship between hedonic hunger and UPF intake.
• The mediation pathway suggests psychological distress plays a meaningful role in linking hedonic hunger to dietary behavior in shift-workers.

Shift-work is associated with irregular eating patterns and greater ultra-processed food intake, potentially driven by hedonic hunger and psychological distress.

• The background of the study identified shift-work as linked to irregular eating patterns and greater UPF intake.
• Hedonic hunger and psychological distress were identified as potential drivers of these dietary patterns.
• The study population consisted specifically of healthcare professionals engaged in shift-work.
• The study aimed to examine the interplay between hedonic hunger, UPF consumption, and mental health in this specific occupational group.