Passive short-video use and intuitive eating among university students: A serial mediation and network analysis of cognitive and affective pathways

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between university students' passive use of short-video media and their intuitive eating behaviors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey included 1084 university students in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Data were collected using general demographic data, the Surveillance Use Scale (SUS), the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), the Consideration of Future Consequence-food (CFC), and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS). A theory-informed serial mediation model and an exploratory eight-node psychological network were estimated. RESULTS: Higher SUS scores were associated with lower IES-2 scores (total effect = -0.335, 95% CI: -0.489, -0.180). Indirect associations through CFC and SAAS were statistically detectable, but the serial pathway was small. Body-food choice congruence and reliance on hunger and satiety cues had the highest expected influence, whereas future-oriented dietary consequences had the highest bridge expected influence. CONCLUSION: Higher SUS scores were associated with lower intuitive eating, and the network analysis further highlighted future-oriented dietary cognition and intuitive-eating dimensions. Based on these relevant factors, it is necessary to enhance the attention of society, schools, and families to university students' dietary health and take effective measures to promote their healthy development.