Honglv Xu1, Ying Sun1, Yuhui Wan1, Shichen Zhang1, Huiqiong Xu1, Rong Yang1, Wei Wang1, Hanjun Zeng1, Shaojun Xu1, Jiahu Hao1, Fangbiao Tao2. 1. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P.R China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui, P.R China. 2. Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P.R China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui, P.R China. Electronic address: taofangbiao@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed inconsistent results of the relationship between eating patterns and mental health in adolescents, and little is known in Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A multi-center population-based survey was conducted in 32 schools in 4 provinces across China. A total of 14,500 adolescents at grade 7-12 completed eligible questionnaires. Emotional, conduct and social adaptation problems were assessed using Multi-dimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA), while eating pattern was collected using the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ). RESULTS: Four principal components were obtained, including healthy, meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and fast foods patterns. The healthy pattern associated with lower risk of psychological symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AORs) was 0.59, 0.60, 0.62, 0.53, respectively, all p < 0.01). While the fast foods pattern (AOR was 2.16, 2.04, 1.84, 2.24, respectively, all p < 0.01), the SSBs pattern (AOR was 1.38, 1.34, 1.25, 1.56, respectively, all p < 0.01) and the meats pattern (AOR was 1.24, 1.15, 1.12, 1.28, respectively, all p < 0.05) significantly associated with higher risk of psychological symptoms. Dose-response relationships were observed in all eating patterns with psychological symptoms, except for meats pattern (p-trend < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limited the ability to infer causality. Meanwhile, it was difficult for estimating the eating quantity accurately by SQFFQ, and can only be assessed by the dietary pattern score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential importance of eating pattern for mental health during adolescence.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed inconsistent results of the relationship between eating patterns and mental health in adolescents, and little is known in Chinese adolescents. METHODS: A multi-center population-based survey was conducted in 32 schools in 4 provinces across China. A total of 14,500 adolescents at grade 7-12 completed eligible questionnaires. Emotional, conduct and social adaptation problems were assessed using Multi-dimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA), while eating pattern was collected using the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ). RESULTS: Four principal components were obtained, including healthy, meat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and fast foods patterns. The healthy pattern associated with lower risk of psychological symptoms (adjusted odds ratio (AORs) was 0.59, 0.60, 0.62, 0.53, respectively, all p < 0.01). While the fast foods pattern (AOR was 2.16, 2.04, 1.84, 2.24, respectively, all p < 0.01), the SSBs pattern (AOR was 1.38, 1.34, 1.25, 1.56, respectively, all p < 0.01) and the meats pattern (AOR was 1.24, 1.15, 1.12, 1.28, respectively, all p < 0.05) significantly associated with higher risk of psychological symptoms. Dose-response relationships were observed in all eating patterns with psychological symptoms, except for meats pattern (p-trend < 0.01). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limited the ability to infer causality. Meanwhile, it was difficult for estimating the eating quantity accurately by SQFFQ, and can only be assessed by the dietary pattern score. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential importance of eating pattern for mental health during adolescence.
Authors: Laura Orlando; Katarina A Savel; Sheri Madigan; Marlena Colasanto; Daphne J Korczak Journal: Aust N Z J Psychiatry Date: 2021-07-27 Impact factor: 5.598