Compensatory Usage of the Internet: The Case of Mukbang Watching on YouTube

Use of Mukbang in Health Promotion: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Mukbang is a recent internet phenomenon in which anchors publicly record and show their eating through short video platforms. Researchers reported a tangible impact of mukbang on the psychological and physical health, appetite, and eating behavior of the public, it is critical to obtain clear and comprehensive insights concerning the use of mukbang to promote the viewers' appetite, eating behaviors, and health to identify directions for future work.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to comprehensively outline the current evidence regarding the impact of mukbang consumption on dietary behaviors, appetite regulation, flavor perception, and physical and psychological well-being. Specifically, we conducted an analysis of public perceptions and attitudes toward mukbang while summarizing the reciprocal influence it has on health promotion.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guideline and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. We comprehensively searched 8 electronic databases in Chinese, English, and Korean languages. We also searched gray literature sources like Google Scholar and ProQuest. We used a data extraction chart to extract information relevant to the impact of mukbang on health. The extracted data were qualitatively analyzed to form different themes related to health, categorizing and integrating the results based on the type of study (qualitative, observational, and experimental).

RESULTS

This scoping review finally included 53 studies; the annual distribution exhibited a consistent upward trend across all categories since their initial publication in 2017. Based on the results of the analysis, we have summarized 4 themes, which showed that mukbang may have positive effects on viewers' appetite, food choices, and weight control; it can also meet the psychological needs of viewers and provide digital companionship and happiness. However, excessive viewing may also be harmful to viewer's health, which has also caused health concerns for some viewers.

CONCLUSIONS

This study conducted a comprehensive search, screening, and synthesis of existing studies focusing on mukbang and health across various languages and varying levels of quality, which has presented the analytical evidence of the relationship between mukbang and dietary behaviors, appetite, flavor perception, and health. According to the results, future research could consider analyzing the beneficial and harmful factors of mukbang, thereby further optimizing the existing mukbang videos accordingly to explore the potential of using mukbang for health intervention or promotion, so as to improve or customize the content of mukbang based on this scoping review, maximize the appetite and health promotion effects of mukbang videos.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

INPLASY INPLASY2022120109; https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-12-0109/.

Problematic Online Video Watching, Boredom Proneness and Loneliness Among First-Year Chinese Undergraduates: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Study

Purpose

While previous cross-sectional studies have investigated the relationship between problematic online video watching and mental health issues, longitudinal studies exploring their bidirectional relationship remain relatively scarce. This study aimed to fill this gap by conducting a two-wave longitudinal design.

Participants and Methods

Six hundred and ninety-nine first-year undergraduates voluntarily completed two rounds of questionnaire surveys assessing problematic online video watching, boredom proneness and loneliness with an interval of 4 months. To test the research hypotheses, cross-lagged panel models were performed using AMOS 24.0.

Results

Our results revealed the that (1) Boredom proneness and problematic online video watching were mutually influenced. (2) Loneliness at T1 positively predicted the level of problematic online video watching at T2 but not vice versa. (3) Boredom proneness mediated the link between loneliness and problematic online video watching. (4) Chinese first-year undergraduates' levels of problematic online video watching and boredom proneness significantly increased during their educational transition period from high school to university.

Conclusion

The present study enhances our understanding of the dynamic relationships between problematic online video watching, boredom proneness and loneliness, highlighting the targeted prevention and interventions for first-year undergraduates.

Why am I obsessed with viewing mukbang ASMR? The roles of mediated voyeurism and intertemporal choice

This study investigates the determinants of the obsessive view of mukbang autonomous sensory meridian response (Mukbang ASMR) and examines the moderation role of intertemporal choice and the mediating effect of mediated voyeurism among university students in Malaysia. A quantitative survey was conducted with 408 university students in Malaysia who viewed mukbang channel(s) often on social media. PLS-SEM is adopted to examine the associated paths and effects. The results demonstrate the significant impact of alienation and novelty, vicarious satisfaction, companionship and loneliness on mukbang ASMR obsession. Mediated voyeurism intervenes the effects of alienation and novelty on mukbang ASMR and intertemporal choice positively moderates the relationship between companionship and loneliness and mukbang ASMR. This study constructs a model to estimate Mukbang ASMR obsession by identifying specific motives and relationships among key factors, highlighting loneliness as the most effective determinant of mukbang ASMR among Malaysian younger generation. Research results provide an extended understanding of the mukbang ASMR, offering valuable insights in the areas of lifestyle, social well-being, and social media consumption.

Association between watching eating broadcasts like mukbang and cookbang and generalized anxiety disorder among Korean adolescents

BACKGROUND

Anxiety disorders are common during adolescence; therefore, detecting anxiety disorders among adolescents and providing appropriate treatment are crucial. Studies have suggested that watching online audiovisual broadcasts like mukbang and cookbang (hereafter mukbang), where hosts eat or cook food, may influence anxiety disorders. However, there is insufficient research on the association between watching mukbang and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Therefore, we investigated the association between watching mukbang and GAD among Korean adolescents.

METHODS

We analyzed 51,764 adolescents who participated in the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS). The participants were asked how frequently they watched mukbang per week over the past 12 months. Anxiety disorders were assessed using the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for confounding variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence of GAD was higher among adolescents who watched mukbang compared to those who did not (aOR: 1.100, 95% CI: 1.026-1.180, P = 0.008 in male participants; aOR: 1.090, 95% CI: 1.003-1.185, P = 0.042 in female participants). The frequency of watching mukbang showed a dose-dependent relationship with a greater likelihood of GAD in female adolescents.

CONCLUSION

This study's results showed that watching mukbang is associated with GAD in Korean adolescents. Proper interventions for mental health are needed for adolescents who watch mukbang.

The mediating effect of internet addiction and the moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between alexithymia and depression

There is a certain relationship between alexithymia and depression, but further investigation is needed to explore their underlying mechanisms. The aims of this study was to explore the mediating role of internet addiction between alexithymia and depression and the moderating role of physical activity. A total of 594 valid responses were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 18.72 years (SD = 1.09). The sample comprised 250 males (42.09%) and 344 females (57.91%). These responses were utilized for descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and the development of mediation and moderation models. Alexithymia showed positive correlations with depression and internet addiction, and physical activity was negatively correlated with internet addiction and depression. Internet addiction partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and depression, while physical activity weakened the association between internet addiction and depression, acting as a moderator. Our findings suggest that excessive Internet engagement may mediate the relationship between alexithymia and depression as an emotional regulatory coping strategy, and that physical activity attenuates the predictive effect of Internet addiction on depression.

The mediating effect of internet addiction and the moderating effect of physical activity on the relationship between alexithymia and depression

There is a certain relationship between alexithymia and depression, but further investigation is needed to explore their underlying mechanisms. The aims of this study was to explore the mediating role of internet addiction between alexithymia and depression and the moderating role of physical activity. A total of 594 valid responses were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 18.72 years (SD = 1.09). The sample comprised 250 males (42.09%) and 344 females (57.91%). These responses were utilized for descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and the development of mediation and moderation models. Alexithymia showed positive correlations with depression and internet addiction, and physical activity was negatively correlated with internet addiction and depression. Internet addiction partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and depression, while physical activity weakened the association between internet addiction and depression, acting as a moderator. Our findings suggest that excessive Internet engagement may mediate the relationship between alexithymia and depression as an emotional regulatory coping strategy, and that physical activity attenuates the predictive effect of Internet addiction on depression.

The Spectrum of Motivations Behind Watching Mukbang Videos and Its Health Effects on Its Viewers: A Review

Mukbang are videos in which individuals record themselves while eating a specific kind of food (typically food that is low in nutrition) and chit-chatting with the audience through virtual comments about their everyday lives. Since the beginning of this decade, mukbang videos have been gaining popularity all over the world, thanks to the growing popularity of online social media platforms, in particular YouTube. Since a limited number of studies have been carried out to investigate the motivations and effects of watching mukbang on its audience, the purpose of this review article is to analyze the existing body of research on mukbang and to shed light on myriads of the motivation behind watching mukbang videos and its health effects on its viewers. With the help of this review article, we want to bring attention to the importance of conducting high-quality research in this field so that medical professionals are aware of the motivations behind watching these videos and the conditions that may be associated with it. The motivations behind watching mukbang videos cannot be completely categorized into being positive or negative, since it depends on its usage by the viewers. Watching mukbang is significantly more prevalent among young adults. Mukbang offers digital commensality, entertainment, a para-social effect, escapism from real-life issues, and the opportunity for sexual use. On the other hand, excessive use of mukbang has been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including obesity and eating disorders. Since a limited amount of research has been conducted on mukbang, there is a pressing need to place emphasis on the phenomenon of mukbang, and clinicians should be made aware of mukbang in order to facilitate the diagnosis of conditions that are linked to it.

Associations between mukbang viewing and disordered eating behaviors

OBJECTIVE

Mukbang videos are a popular cultural phenomenon that often feature a host consuming large amounts of food to entertain an audience. We aim to examine the relationship between mukbang viewing characteristics and eating disorders symptoms.

METHODS

Eating disorder symptoms were evaluated using the eating disorders examination-questionnaire. Frequency of mukbang viewing, average watch time per occasion, tendency to eat while watching mukbang, and problematic mukbang viewing (using the Mukbang Addiction Scale) were assessed. We used multivariable regressions to estimate associations between mukbang viewing characteristics and eating disorder symptoms, adjusting for gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, and BMI. We used social media to recruit adults who watched mukbang at least once during the past year (n = 264).

RESULTS

A total of 34% of participants reported watching mukbang daily or almost daily, with mean watch time per viewing session being 29.94 min (SD = 1.00). Eating disorder symptoms, especially binge eating and purging, were associated with greater problematic mukbang viewing and a tendency to not consume food while viewing mukbang. Participants with greater body dissatisfaction watched mukbang more frequently and were more likely to eat while watching mukbang, yet they scored lower on the Mukbang Addiction Scale and watched fewer average minutes of mukbang per viewing occasion.

DISCUSSION

In a world increasingly penetrated by online media, our findings linking mukbang viewing and disordered eating may inform clinical diagnoses and treatments of eating disorders. Future studies establishing directionality of the relationship between mukbang viewing behaviors and eating disorder pathology are warranted.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Mukbang videos often feature a host consuming large amounts of food. Using a questionnaire assessing mukbang viewing behaviors and disordered eating pathology, we found associations between certain viewing habits and disordered eating symptoms. Given the health consequences of eating disorders and potentially problematic consequences of certain online media, this study can inform clinical understanding of individuals with disordered eating who engage in certain online media, like mukbang.

Digital Forms of Commensality in the 21st Century: A Scoping Review

The social act of eating together has been influenced and mediated by technologies in recent decades. This phenomenon has been investigated in different academic fields, but the topic is still in an incipient dimension, and there is a lack of consensus regarding terminology and definitions. The study aimed to characterize the main scientific findings regarding digital forms of commensality in the 21st century and to identify possible relationships between these practices and public health. A scoping review was conducted to identify papers published in different languages between 2001 and 2021. A total of 104 publications that combined commensality and technology in all contexts were included. Most studies were qualitative; from the Design and Technology field; used social media and video platforms or prototypes/augmented reality gadgets; and used different terms to refer to digital forms of commensality, allowing the analysis of the construction of field definitions over time. The intersections with health were observed from impacts on family/community engagement, culinary skills development, and mental health and eating habits. These practices also structured specific social interactions, such as virtual food communities and commensality, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper indicates the consistent growth of these practices and recommends the development of future research for theoretically and longitudinally deeper evaluations of the impacts of these new ways of eating together, especially regarding their effects on human health.