Problematic Mukbang Watching and Its Relationship to Disordered Eating and Internet Addiction: A Pilot Study Among Emerging Adult Mukbang Watchers

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Kircaburun K., YURDAGÜL C., Kuss D., EMİRTEKİN E., Griffiths M. D.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION, vol.19, pp.2160-2169, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11469-020-00309-w
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.2160-2169
  • Keywords: Mukbang, Mukbang watching, Online eating shows, Eating disorder, Disordered eating, Internet addiction, COMORBIDITY, SCOFF, RISK
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Internet technology has facilitated the use of a wide variety of different activities and applications in online contexts. One such activity is watching mukbang (i.e., watching videos of "eating broadcasts" where someone eats a large amount of food while interacting with viewers). In the present study, the relationship of problematic mukbang watching with disordered eating and internet addiction was examined. Participants were 140 emerging adults who watched mukbang at least once in the past 30 days (66% female; M-age = 21.66, SD = 1.88, range = 19-29 years). Structural equation modeling indicated that problematic mukbang watching was positively associated with both disordered eating and internet addiction. The present study is the first to explore the predictive role of problematic mukbang watching on adverse consequences, and suggests that mukbang watching may be problematic for a minority of emerging adults and that problematic mukbang watching warrants further examination of its impact on mental health and wellbeing.