Exploring the longitudinal links of chemosensory hedonic capacity with appetitive traits and satisfaction with food-related life in Chinese older adults

Chemosensory hedonic capacity, the ability to derive pleasure from smells and tastes, is closely related to eating behaviors and overall well-being. However, research on chemosensory hedonic capacity has rarely focused on older adults and is largely limited to cross-sectional designs. Given the importance of sensory functions, eating behaviors, and satisfaction with food-related life (SWFL) for the well-being of older adults, it is important to investigate chemosensory hedonic capacity and its associations with eating behaviors and SWFL in this population. Thus, the present, one-year longitudinal study examined the prospective associations between chemosensory hedonic capacity, appetitive traits (as comprehensive indicators of eating behaviors), and SWFL among Chinese older adults. A total of 551 participants (46.6% men; M_age = 59.06 years) completed online surveys at baseline (T1), with 202 of these participants completing the surveys one year later (T2). Multivariate regression and mediation analyses were conducted. Results revealed that higher chemosensory hedonic capacity at T1 was associated with higher enjoyment of food at T2, lower food fussiness at T2, and higher SWFL at T2, after adjusting for covariates and the autoregressive effects. Mediation analyses showed that higher chemosensory hedonic capacity at T1 was related to lower food fussiness at T2, which, in turn, was related to greater SWFL at T2, supporting the mediating role of food fussiness at T2. These findings extend the literature by highlighting the longitudinal associations of chemosensory hedonic capacity with appetitive traits and SWFL in older adults, which have important implications for developing strategies to improve eating behaviors and food-related well-being in this population.