Stefanie Dimov1, Lisa K Mundy2,3,4, Jordana K Bayer2,4,5, Felice N Jacka2,3,6,7, Louise Canterford2,3, George C Patton2,3,4. 1. Department of Psychology and Counselling, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. 2. Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. 3. Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. 4. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 5. School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. 6. Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. 7. Black Dog Institute, Randwick, Australia.
Abstract
Objectives: There is evidence that diet quality is associated with mental health problems in adults and adolescents. Yet the extent to which overall diet quality (not individual nutrients or dietary patterns) may be associated with mental health problems in pre-adolescent children, a common time for first onset of symptoms, remains unclear. This study examined associations between overall diet quality, using a brief measure, and mental health problems during late childhood, in a large community sample. Methods: Participants were 787 eight and nine-year-old children taking part in the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study. Parents reported on their child's mental health problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and on their child's diet quality, using a six-item screening tool. Results: Regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for child age, sex, body mass index, and family socioeconomic status. Overall diet quality was significantly associated with children's mental health before (beta = -0.11, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.04, p = 0.004) and after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index and family socioeconomic status (beta = -0.10, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.03, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Concordant with previous literature, results indicate that better overall diet quality is related to more positive mental health in pre-adolescent children. Additionally, these results support the utility and efficacy of a brief (six-item) parent-report questionnaire as an indicator of overall diet quality.
Objectives: There is evidence that diet quality is associated with mental health problems in adults and adolescents. Yet the extent to which overall diet quality (not individual nutrients or dietary patterns) may be associated with mental health problems in pre-adolescent children, a common time for first onset of symptoms, remains unclear. This study examined associations between overall diet quality, using a brief measure, and mental health problems during late childhood, in a large community sample. Methods:Participants were 787 eight and nine-year-old children taking part in the Childhood to Adolescence Transition Study. Parents reported on their child's mental health problems using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and on their child's diet quality, using a six-item screening tool. Results: Regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for child age, sex, body mass index, and family socioeconomic status. Overall diet quality was significantly associated with children's mental health before (beta = -0.11, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.04, p = 0.004) and after adjustments for age, sex, body mass index and family socioeconomic status (beta = -0.10, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.03, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Concordant with previous literature, results indicate that better overall diet quality is related to more positive mental health in pre-adolescent children. Additionally, these results support the utility and efficacy of a brief (six-item) parent-report questionnaire as an indicator of overall diet quality.
Entities:
Keywords:
CATS study; Diet quality; adolescence; children; mental health
Authors: Louise Thornton; Bridie Osman; Annie B Wescott; Matthew Sunderland; Katrina Champion; Olivia Green; Frances Kay-Lambkin; Tim Slade; Nickie Newton; Cath Chapman; Maree Teesson; Katherine Mills; Louise Birrell; David Lubans; Pepijn Van de Ven; John Torous; Belinda Parmenter; Lauren Gardner Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2020-06-03
Authors: Margaret M Thomas; Jessica Gugusheff; Heather J Baldwin; Joanne Gale; Sinead Boylan; Seema Mihrshahi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: José Francisco López-Gil; Iván Cavero-Redondo; Estela Jiménez-López; Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni; Alicia Saz-Lara; Arthur Eumann Mesas Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-04-01