薬理と治療

Abstract

Background　Studies have reported that eating with another person makes the food more delicious and increases its consumption. They have found that eating with others in person has a psychological effect and is thought to evoke positive changes in oneʼs mood and atmosphere. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted eating with friends and encouraged Internet use for such an activity. This study conducted a survey to examine differences in the deliciousness of food under three conditions: solitary eating, video dining, and actual co-eating. Methods　Responses were obtained from 400 university students using Google Forms, of whom 55 had eaten with someone else virtually. The 55 participants were then asked to recall the three meal conditions and rate items on food deliciousness and meal satisfaction. Analysis of variance was performed using R for analysis. Results　Findings demonstrated a significant difference（P＜0.01）between the three conditions in terms of food deliciousness, suggesting that sharing a meal with someone, even virtually, makes food more delicious than eating alone. Conclusion　Online communication, such as conversations, may have a social facilitation effect, influencing food deliciousness. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, using the Internet to eat together may be useful in solving problems caused by solitary eating and in making meals more delicious.（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2022；50：1623‒8）