Is organic food consumption associated with life satisfaction? A cross-sectional analysis from the NutriNet-Santé study

Abstract

Well-being is often mentioned as an important motive for organic food consumption. Little is known about the relationship between organic food consumption and life satisfaction (a component of well-being). The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between organic food consumption and life satisfaction.A total of 17,446 volunteers aged 45 or above, from the NutriNet-Santé cohort filled in an organic food semi-quantitative frequency questionnaire and completed the French validated satisfaction with life scale (range score 5–35). Adjusted means (95% confidence intervals) of the satisfaction with life score across quintiles of contribution of organic food to the diet (total and by food group) were estimated using ANCOVA models.In multivariable model, life satisfaction among lowest and highest consumers of organic food reached 24.98 (95%CI: 24.78–25.17) and 25.52 (95%CI: 25.33–25.71) respectively (P trend<0.0001). Life satisfaction was slightly and positively associated with higher contribution of organic food to the diet (overall and in most food groups).Our findings suggest that high organic food consumption may play a role in life satisfaction of participants over 45years old through hedonist or eudemonic approaches. Keywords: Organic food consumption, Life satisfaction, Hedonic motives, Eudemonic motives, Well-being