Mechanisms of emotional eating and drinking: Negative affect increases approach bias and craving for chocolate and alcohol

Aim: Negative affect can trigger overconsumption of appetitive substances, but specific mechanisms and individual risk factors remain unclear. In two pre-registered studies, we tested whether negative affect increases approach bias and craving for chocolate and alcohol, with strongest effects expected in individuals with self-reported emotional intake. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 87), negative or neutral affect was induced on separate days, followed by an approach-avoidance-task and craving ratings. Study 2 used a more potent affect induction, included a larger sample, and nested affect induction sessions within a single day (N = 132). Results: In Study 1, affect was unsuccessfully induced, so we analysed the effect of self-reported sadness. Approach biases and cravings to chocolate and alcohol were stronger during sessions with higher self-reported sadness. Study 2 replicated and extended this finding by showing that also induced negative affect increased biases and cravings. Further, emotional eaters showed a stronger affect-related increase in chocolate bias, while emotional drinkers exhibited consistently stronger biases independent of affect. Conclusion: Craving and approach bias increases may explain self-regulation failures during negative affect. While these mechanisms were similar for both appetitive substances, affect-related increases in approach bias may be especially relevant in emotional eating but not in emotional drinking.