scholarly journals Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students?

Author(s):  
Megan C. Whatnall ◽  
Amanda J. Patterson ◽  
Yu Yao Siew ◽  
Frances Kay-Lambkin ◽  
Melinda J. Hutchesson

University students report unhealthy diets and experience poorer mental health than the general population. This study explores the association between psychological distress and resilience with dietary intake in a sample of Australian university students. Cross-sectional data from the University of Newcastle Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey 2017 were analysed. Psychological distress (Kessler Scale), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) and fruit, vegetable, soft drink, takeaway food and breakfast intakes (short diet questions) were assessed. Socio-demographic (e.g., gender), student (e.g., undergraduate/postgraduate) and health characteristics (e.g., physical activity) were captured. Multivariate linear regression models explored associations between psychological distress and resilience with dietary intake, with adjustment for potential confounders. Analysis included 2710 students (mean age 26.9 ± 9.5 years, 30.4% male). In adjusted models, lower psychological distress was associated with higher fruit (β = −0.37, p = 0.001) and vegetable (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) serves/day, more frequent breakfast consumption (p < 0.001) and less frequent soft drink and takeaway food consumption (p < 0.001). Higher resilience was associated with higher fruit (β = 0.03, p = 0.022) and vegetable (β = 0.06, p < 0.001) serves/day, more frequent breakfast consumption (p = 0.005), and less frequent soft drink (p < 0.001) and takeaway food consumption (p = 0.001). These results highlight a potential link between psychological distress and resilience with diet, and that further research in this area is warranted.

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 322-329
Author(s):  
Jessica Tyler ◽  
Janine Lam ◽  
Katrina Scurrah ◽  
Gillian Dite

AbstractThere is a commonly observed association between chronic disease and psychological distress, but many potential factors could confound this association. This study investigated the association using a powerful twin study design that can control for unmeasured confounders that are shared between twins, including genetic and environmental factors. We used twin-paired cross-sectional data from the Adult Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire collected by Twins Research Australia from 2014 to 2017. Linear regression models fitted using maximum likelihood estimations (MLE) were used to test the association between self-reported chronic disease status and psychological distress, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). When comparing between twin pairs, having any chronic disease was associated with a 1.29 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.66; p < .001). When comparing twins within a pair, having any chronic disease was associated with a 0.36 increase in K6 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.71; p = .049). This within-pair estimate is of most interest as comparing twins within a pair naturally controls for shared factors such as genes, age and shared lived experiences. Whereas the between-pair estimate does not. The weaker effect found within pairs tells us that genetic and environmental factors shared between twins confounds the relationship between chronic disease and psychological distress. This suggests that associations found in unrelated samples may show exaggerated estimates.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2289 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Belén Ruíz-Roso ◽  
Patricia de Carvalho Padilha ◽  
Diana C. Matilla-Escalante ◽  
Paola Brun ◽  
Natalia Ulloa ◽  
...  

Aim: to describe physical activity and ultra-processed foods consumption, their changes and sociodemographic predictors among adolescents from countries in Europe (Italy and Spain) and Latin America (Brazil, Chile, and Colombia) during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic period. Methods: Cross-sectional study via web survey. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and weekly ultra-processed food consumption data were used. To compare the frequencies of physical activity status with sociodemographic variables, a multinomial logistic and a multiple logistic regression for habitual ultra-processed foods was performed. In final models, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Sample of 726 adolescents, mostly females (59.6%) aged 16–19 years old (54.3%). Adolescents from Latin America presented odds ratio (OR) 2.98 (CI 95% 1.80–4.94) of being inactive and those whose mothers had higher level of education were less active during lockdown [OR 0.40 (CI 95% 0.20–0.84)]. The habitual ultra-processed consumption was also high during this period in all countries, and more prevalent in Latin America. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of inactivity was observed in this population, but reductions of physical activity and habitual ultra-processed consumption during the pandemic were more pronounced in Latin America. Our findings reinforce the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle, i.e., exercise and diet, during periods of social isolation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Supa Pengpid ◽  
Karl Peltzer

Abstract Background The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress among adolescent school children in Morocco. Methods Nationally representative cross-sectional data were analysed from 6745 adolescents (15 years median age) that responded to questions on a two-item measure of psychological distress from “2016 Morocco Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS).” Results The prevalence of psychological distress was 23.3, 18.0% among males and 29.2% among females. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, female sex, older age, bullying victimization, infrequently physically attacked, frequent participation in physical fights, having no close friends, frequent experience of hunger, parental emotional neglect, parental disrespect of privacy, school truancy, sedentary behaviour and having sustained a single or multiple serious injuries (past year) were associated with psychological distress. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, low peer support, parents never check homework, exposure to passive smoking, substance use (current tobacco use, current cannabis use and ever used amphetamine), frequent soft drink and frequent fast food consumption were positively and fruit and vegetable intake was negatively associated with psychological distress. Conclusion Almost one in four students reported psychological distress and several associated factors were identified which can aid prevention and control strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Diethelm ◽  
Nicole Jankovic ◽  
Luis A Moreno ◽  
Inge Huybrechts ◽  
Stefaan De Henauw ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveSince inadequate food consumption patterns during adolescence are not only linked with the occurrence of obesity in youth but also with the subsequent risk of developing diseases in adulthood, the establishment and maintenance of a healthy diet early in life is of great public health importance. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe and evaluate the food consumption of a well-characterized sample of European adolescents against food-based dietary guidelines for the first time.DesignThe HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study is a cross-sectional study, whose main objective was to obtain comparable data on a variety of nutritional and health-related parameters in adolescents aged 12·5–17·5 years.SettingTen cities in Europe.SubjectsThe initial sample consisted of more than 3000 European adolescents. Among these, 1593 adolescents (54 % female) had sufficient and plausible dietary data on energy and food intakes from two 24 h recalls using the HELENA-DIAT software.ResultsFood intake of adolescents in Europe is not optimal compared with the two food-based dietary guidelines, Optimized Mixed Diet and Food Guide Pyramid, examined in this study. Adolescents eat half of the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables and less than two-thirds of the recommended amount of milk (and milk products), but consume much more meat (and meat products), fats and sweets than recommended. However, median total energy intake may be estimated to be nearly in line with the recommendations.ConclusionThe results urge the need to improve the dietary habits of adolescents in order to maintain health in later life.


Author(s):  
Mahmuda Mohammad ◽  
Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury ◽  
Md Nazrul Islam ◽  
Arifa Ahmed ◽  
Farha Nusrat Zahan ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionUniversity students generally face a variety of challenges. During this period of life, they practice some unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyles. Therefore, we aimed to assess the health awareness status of university students from the northeast part of Bangladesh and to evaluate its associated factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using a stratified random sampling among public and private university students from the northeast region of Bangladesh and interviewed 1143 students. We used a self-reported questionnaire, including questions related to awareness status, lifestyle practice, dietary habit and socio-demographic factors. To assess students’ health awareness status and its association with their lifestyle practices and socio-demographic factors, we used logistic regression models.ResultsThe majority (61%) of the students were not aware of better health status and their dietary habits were not adequate. Smokers [odds ratio (OR): 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44, 0.99] were less likely to be aware of better health status. The participants who thought that they were leading a healthy lifestyle were less likely (OR: 0.71; CI: 0.56, 0.92) to be aware. Moreover, frequency of participating in sports and the psychological factors related to eating behaviors were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with health awareness status.ConclusionOur study findings may help to create a foundation for possible interventional programs on health awareness and nutritional education to improve the health awareness status and dietary behavior of university students. To prevent students from poor eating habits while feeling happy, effective programs (e.g. seminars, projects and media campaigns) should be held, which may include enhancing healthy and recommended amounts of food consumption.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 3185-3196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Fungo ◽  
John Muyonga ◽  
Margaret Kabahenda ◽  
Archileo Kaaya ◽  
Clement A Okia ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the contribution of forest foods to dietary intake and estimate their association with household food insecurity.DesignCross-sectional survey conducted among 279 households. Using a 7 d recall questionnaire, information on household food consumption was collected from women and used to determine the household dietary diversity score, food variety score and forest food consumption score (FFCS). Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) score was determined and Spearman rank correlation was used to establish the relationship between consumption of forest foods and HFIAS score. Women’s dietary intake was estimated from two 24 h recalls. The contribution of forest foods to women’s nutrient intakes was calculated and women’s nutrient intakes were compared with estimated average nutrient requirements.SettingRural forest-dependent households in twelve villages in eastern and southern Cameroon.SubjectsHousehold heads and their non-pregnant, non-lactating spouses.ResultsForty-seven unique forest foods were identified; of these, seventeen were consumed by 98 % of respondents over the course of one week and by 17 % of women during the two 24 h recall periods. Although forest foods contributed approximately half of women’s total daily energy intake, considerably greater contributions were made to vitamin A (93 %), Na (100 %), Fe (85 %), Zn (88 %) and Ca (89 %) intakes. Despite a highly biodiverse pool of foods, most households (83 %) suffered from high food insecurity based on the HFIAS. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the HFIAS score and the FFCS (r2=−0·169, P=0·0006), demonstrating that forest foods play an important role in ensuring food security in these forest-dependent communities.ConclusionsForest foods are widely consumed by forest-dependent communities. Given their rich nutrient content, they have potential to contribute to food and nutrition security.


2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 464-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanita Kunaratnam ◽  
Mark Halaki ◽  
Li Ming Wen ◽  
Louise A. Baur ◽  
Victoria M. Flood

AbstractFew studies have investigated the effect of maternal factors on child eating practices. Our study aimed to explore mother–child dietary behaviours and their associations with socio-demographic factors. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from control participants (n 243) in the Healthy Beginnings Trial, which involved first-time mothers and their 2-year-old children. Mother–child dietary behaviours were assessed using short dietary questions (short FFQ) and their associations with socio-demographic factors were examined using binary logistic regression. The dietary intake of 2-year-old children was characterised by low vegetable consumption and high discretionary food intake. In multivariate analysis, lower-income mothers (<Australian $40 000 per annum) reported their child was more likely to consume less fruit (<1 serve/d) (adjusted OR (AOR): 5·83; 95 % CI 1·49, 22·80) and ate hot chips more frequently (≥2 times/week) (AOR: 4·80; 95 % CI 1·28, 18·04), compared with higher-income mothers (≥Australian $40 000 per annum). Younger mothers (<25 years) reported their child consumed more sugary drinks and soft drink (>0·5 cups/d) AOR 2·93 (95 % CI 1·03, 8·35), compared with older mothers (≥25 years). Non-Australian-born mothers reported their child consumed more fruit juice (>0·5 cups/d) AOR 2·04 (95 % CI 1·02, 4·05), sweet snacks AOR 1·96 (95 % CI 1·02, 3·76) and fast food (≥2 times/week) AOR 3·67 (95 % CI 1·29, 10·43) compared with Australian-born mothers. Significant positive correlations between maternal and child dietary intake were observed for all dietary variables except milk, with the largest association for fast foods (Pearson’s r 0·52, P<0·001). This study shows that maternal factors are associated with child dietary behaviours. Targeting young mothers (<25 years) of potential disadvantage, before commencement of early feeding practices, has the potential to improve children’s diets.


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