The effect of personal relative deprivation on food choice: An experimental approach

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that relative disadvantage is more relevant than absolute socioeconomic factors in explaining disparities in healthfulness of diet. In a series of pre-registered experiments, we tested whether personal relative deprivation (PRD), i.e. the sense that one is unfairly deprived of a deserved outcome relative to others, results in choosing more palatable, rewarding foods. Study 1 (N = 102) demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of a game for inducing real-time experiences of PRD. Study 2 (N = 287) showed no main effect of PRD condition on hypothetical food choices, but an interaction between chronic PRD and condition revealed that those in the PRD condition chose more rewarding foods when feeling chronically deprived. In Study 3 (N = 260) the hypothesized main effect was found on real, non-hypothetical food choices: those in the PRD condition chose more rewarding foods, controlling for sensitivity to palatable food. Our results provide preliminary indications that the experience of being relatively deprived, rather than the objective amount or resources, may result in a higher preference for high-caloric and palatable foods. It may be suggested that efforts to reduce societal disparities in healthfulness of diet may need to focus on perceptions of injustice beyond objective inequalities.

Perceived inequality in society may not motivate increased food intake in the absence of personal socioeconomic disadvantage

“…A notable potential implication of the null effects of perceived societal inequality is that subjective feelings of personal disadvantage may be an important component for perceived inequality in one’s society to contribute to increased appetite and energy intake. Prior cross-societal research has suggested that societies and communities marked by greater economic inequality are associated with higher incidences of obesity and poorer diets [ 24 , 26 , 27 , 52 ], while a growing body of research using experimental methods has revealed that personal feelings of socioeconomic deprivation and unequal outcomes may have a causal contribution to motivations for increased energy intake [ 6 , 7 , 13 , 16 , 18 , 20 ]. The design of the current studies falls between these two bodies of prior research, by experimentally situating individuals and their eating behaviors within a local environment perceived as more (or less) socioeconomically unequal to examine whether perceiving greater class disparities in society could contribute to similar obesogenic behaviors and dietary outcomes.…”

“…Notably, when participants were experimentally induced to experience disadvantage in socioeconomic standing compared to others, they consumed more calories from subsequent snacks and meals [ 6 , 13 , 16 ], showed greater sensitivity to energy-signaling sensory properties of beverages [ 17 , 18 ], and exhibited increased circulation of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin [ 19 ], even while controlling for their objective SES (e.g., income). Likewise, various experimental manipulations to generate acute feelings of personal relative deprivation (e.g., receiving unfair material outcomes compared to others) have subsequently led to the selection of larger food portion sizes and preferences for more palatable rewarding foods [ 7 , 20 ].…”

“…Although an individual is situated within a society with high levels of socioeconomic inequality (more obvious disparities in resources and opportunities between social classes), he or she may enjoy relatively high subjective socioeconomic standing within that society. Although experimental studies have suggested that perceptions of personal disadvantaged status or relative deprivation may have a causal influence on appetite and eating behaviors [ 7 , 20 ], there has been limited research that sought to examine whether perceptions of greater degrees of inequality within one’s environment (i.e., societal inequality) may likewise stimulate appetite and motivations for increased energy intake. Although cross-sectional studies have shown that societies by higher degrees of income inequality may be associated with unhealthier dietary patterns and increased risk of obesity and metabolic disease [ 24 , 26 , 28 ], to our knowledge there have not been any experimental studies that have directly tested whether the magnitude of inequality incidentally perceived in one’s local environment may influence appetite and eating behavior.…”