Zeinab Ahadi1, Roya Kelishadi2, Mostafa Qorbani3, Hoda Zahedi4, Mahtab Aram5, Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh6, Gelayol Ardalan2, Gita Shafiee7, Seyed Masoud Arzaghi8, Hamid Asayesh9, Ramin Heshmat10. 1. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, # 111, 19th St, North Kargar Ave., Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3. Department of Community Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. 4. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular -Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Clinical Psychology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 7. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 8. Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 9. Department of Medical Emergencies, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. 10. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, # 111, 19th St, North Kargar Ave., Tehran, Iran. rheshmat@tums.ac.ir.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of breakfast intake with psychiatric distress and violent behaviors among Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS: This national survey was conducted among 14,880 students, aged 6-18 y. They were selected by stratified multistage sampling method from urban and rural areas of 30 provinces of Iran. Breakfast intake, psychiatric distress, and violent behaviors were assessed by a questionnaire prepared based on the Global school-based student health survey of the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed by the STATA package. RESULTS: The participation rate was 90.6 %. The percentage of psychiatric distress among breakfast skippers, semi-skippers and non-skippers was 13.4-50.4, 10.1-41.9, and 7.0-33.3 % respectively. The prevalence of psychiatric distress was significantly higher among breakfast skippers than semi-skippers and non-skippers (P value < 0.001). The frequency of psychiatric distress had a significant decreasing trend from breakfast skippers to non-skippers. The prevalence of violent behaviors was significantly higher among breakfast skippers than non-skippers. Students who skipped breakfast reported to be more victimized (29.2 % vs. 26.7 %, respectively, P = 0.04), bullied (21.0 % vs. 16.2 %, respectively, P < 0.001), and had more physical fight (42.6 % vs. 38.5 %, respectively, P = 0.0001) than their other counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Students who regularly consumed breakfast were less likely to experience mental health disorders and violent behavior. Adhering to a regular and balanced diet, besides the awareness of parents on the importance of breakfast eating, may be an appropriate approach for preventing mental health problems and violent behavior in children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of breakfast intake with psychiatric distress and violent behaviors among Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS: This national survey was conducted among 14,880 students, aged 6-18 y. They were selected by stratified multistage sampling method from urban and rural areas of 30 provinces of Iran. Breakfast intake, psychiatric distress, and violent behaviors were assessed by a questionnaire prepared based on the Global school-based student health survey of the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed by the STATA package. RESULTS: The participation rate was 90.6 %. The percentage of psychiatric distress among breakfast skippers, semi-skippers and non-skippers was 13.4-50.4, 10.1-41.9, and 7.0-33.3 % respectively. The prevalence of psychiatric distress was significantly higher among breakfast skippers than semi-skippers and non-skippers (P value < 0.001). The frequency of psychiatric distress had a significant decreasing trend from breakfast skippers to non-skippers. The prevalence of violent behaviors was significantly higher among breakfast skippers than non-skippers. Students who skipped breakfast reported to be more victimized (29.2 % vs. 26.7 %, respectively, P = 0.04), bullied (21.0 % vs. 16.2 %, respectively, P < 0.001), and had more physical fight (42.6 % vs. 38.5 %, respectively, P = 0.0001) than their other counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Students who regularly consumed breakfast were less likely to experience mental health disorders and violent behavior. Adhering to a regular and balanced diet, besides the awareness of parents on the importance of breakfast eating, may be an appropriate approach for preventing mental health problems and violent behavior in children and adolescents.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breakfast; Bullying; Children and adolescents; Psychiatric; Violence
Authors: Therese A O'Sullivan; Monique Robinson; Garth E Kendall; Margaret Miller; Peter Jacoby; Sven R Silburn; Wendy H Oddy Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2008-11-25 Impact factor: 4.022