Investigating meal‐concurrent media use: Social and dispositional predictors, intercultural differences, and the novel media phenomenon of “mukbang” eating broadcasts

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257482
  • Meal-concurrent media use has been linked to several problematic outcomes, including higher caloric intake and an increased risk for obesity. Nevertheless, the sociocultural and dispositional predictors of using media while eating are not yet well-understood, including potential cross-cultural differences. Inspired by the recent emergence of a new food-related media phenomenon called “mukbang”—digital eating broadcasts that have become immensely popular throughout East and Southeast Asia—we inquire 296 participants from two cultures (GermanyMeal-concurrent media use has been linked to several problematic outcomes, including higher caloric intake and an increased risk for obesity. Nevertheless, the sociocultural and dispositional predictors of using media while eating are not yet well-understood, including potential cross-cultural differences. Inspired by the recent emergence of a new food-related media phenomenon called “mukbang”—digital eating broadcasts that have become immensely popular throughout East and Southeast Asia—we inquire 296 participants from two cultures (Germany and South Korea) about their meal-concurrent media use. Our results suggest that South Koreans tend to use media more frequently during meals than Germans, especially for social purposes. Meanwhile, younger age only predicts meal-concurrent media use in the German sample. Apart from that, however, many other examined predictors (e.g., gender, living situation, body-esteem, the Big Five) remain statistically insignificant, indicating notable universality for the behavior in question. In the second part of our study, we then put special focus on the emerging mukbang trend and conduct a theory-driven exploration of its gratifications. Doing so, we find that participants' parasocial and social experiences during eating broadcasts significantly predict their enjoyment of the genre.show moreshow less

Download full text files

Export metadata

Additional Services

Share in Twitter Search Google Scholar Statistics
Metadaten
Author: Jan‐Philipp Stein, Jiyeon Yeo
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257482
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften (Philos., Psycho., Erziehungs- u. Gesell.-Wissensch.) / Institut Mensch - Computer - Medien
Language:English
Parent Title (English):Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies
Year of Completion:2021
Volume:3
Issue:5
Pagenumber:956–968
Source:Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies 2021, 3(5):956–968. DOI: 10.1002/hbe2.306
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/hbe2.306
Dewey Decimal Classification:1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie
Tag:big five; body esteem; cross-cultural comparison; loneliness; meal-concurrent media use; parasocial relationship
Release Date:2022/03/31
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International