Association between mukbang-watching (eating broadcasts) and depression in Korean adults.

BACKGROUND

Mukbang is an online content genre where hosts eat large amounts of food while interacting with viewers. While earlier studies have suggested an association between mukbang viewing to obesity and disordered eating, its association with depressive symptoms remains unclear. This study investigated the relationship between mukbang-watching frequency and depression prevalence among Korean adults.

METHOD

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1,210 Korean adults aged 20–64 years (mean age = 43.5) between July 4 and 23, 2024. Participants were categorized by mukbang-watching frequency: never, < 1 time/week, 1–2 times/week, and ≥ 3 times/week. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with a score > 10 indicating the presence of depression. Severity levels were classified as minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–19), and severe (20–27). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for depression.

RESULTS

Among participants, 47.5% reported watching mukbang. The overall prevalence of depression was 18.4%. Participants who watched mukbang ≥ 3 times per week had significantly higher odds of depression (OR = 2.848, 95% CI: 1.826–4.441) and severe depressive symptoms (OR = 2.855, 95% CI: 1.054–7.737) compared to non-viewers.

CONCLUSION

Frequent mukbang viewing was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that mukbang consumption may reflect underlying emotional distress and warrant further investigation. Future research should examine the causal mechanisms and consider content type and viewing motivations to better understand the psychological effects of mukbang.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-025-07064-z.