MENTAL DIET TYPOLOGIES AND BEHAVIOURAL OUTCOMES: AN EMPIRICAL COMPARISON OF COGNITIVE CONSUMPTION AND EMOTIONAL DISPOSITION

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study examines the association between distinct mental diet typologies—positive, neutral, and negative—and behavioural outcomes among digitally active adults aged 18–40 years. Utilizing a self-administered online survey disseminated via social media platforms and email networks, 305 participants were classified into mental diet groups based on their responses to the 20‑item Mental Diet Inventory (MDI). The MDI demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) and a three-factor structure accounting for 62% of variance, categorizing habitual cognitive-emotional exposure into positive (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness), neutral (e.g., task-oriented content), and negative (e.g., doomscrolling, pessimistic self-talk) diet profiles. Behavioural outcomes were measured using a 10‑item adaptation of the Behaviour Assessment System for Adults, yielding separate positive (empathy, self-regulation, perseverance) and negative (impulsivity, social withdrawal, emotional reactivity) behaviour scores.Descriptive analyses revealed that 36.1% of participants adhered to a positive mental diet, 33.4% to a neutral diet, and 30.5% to a negative diet. One-way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences across groups for positive behaviour (F(2,302) = 84.21, p < 0.001, η² = 0.36) and negative behaviour (F(2,302) = 76.49, p < 0.001, η² = 0.34), with Tukey’s post hoc tests confirming a stepwise decline in adaptive behaviours and increase in maladaptive traits from positive to negative diet categories. Multiple regression analyses, controlling for screen time and sleep duration, indicated that mental diet type was a strong independent predictor of both positive (β = 0.51, p < 0.001) and negative (β = −0.47, p < 0.001) behaviours, while screen time positively predicted maladaptive outcomes (β = 0.26, p = 0.009) and sleep duration positively predicted adaptive behaviours (β = 0.21, p = 0.014).These findings underscore the behavioural significance of habitual cognitive-emotional consumption, paralleling nutritional models of health. Interventions promoting intentional engagement with affirmative content may foster prosocial and self-regulatory behaviours, whereas reducing exposure to negative stimuli could mitigate maladaptive tendencies. Future longitudinal and experimental studies are warranted to clarify causal pathways and to validate the MDI against established cognitive-affective measures.