Judgment of Passage of Time during School Lunch: The Influence of Well-Being

Abstract Research on school canteens has predominantly prioritized nutrition, overlooking student well-being, including both cognitive and affective components. Nevertheless, lunchtime is a pivotal moment for students to recharge amidst a lengthy school routine. Among various factors affecting children’s well-being, time perception, especially the judgment of passage of time (PoTJ), remains underexplored. Thus, this study examined 614 young French students, utilizing a cross-sectional design and linear regression analyses to test the hypothesis that mealtime satisfaction and well-being in the canteen will predict PoTJ, with higher satisfaction and well-being predicting faster judgments of passage of time. Results revealed significant correlations among the variables, indicating that positive emotions and higher satisfaction are linked to a faster perception of time passage. Notably, preschool students perceived time as passing more quickly compared to older students. Additionally, differences among elementary- and middle-school students further underscore the impact of mealtime satisfaction on PoTJ. This study is the first to investigate children’s PoTJ and well-being. Results are discussed considering the context with potential influences of emotional experiences and student — adult interactions. The findings provide a foundation for future research, suggesting the need for tailored interventions and policy reforms to enhance well-being during school mealtimes.