Mental health and adherence to Mediterranean diet among university students: an Italian cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Lo Moro ◽  
Michele Corezzi ◽  
Fabrizio Bert ◽  
Alessia Buda ◽  
Maria Rosaria Gualano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Mediterranean diet and mental health in university students: an Italian cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Corezzi ◽  
F Bert ◽  
G Lo Moro ◽  
A Buda ◽  
M R Gualano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Diet Adherence ◽  
Mediterranean Diet Adherence

Abstract Background Well-being is essential for positive mental health among university students, influencing their later attitudinal and career outcomes. Many factors contribute to endanger students' mental health, including academic stressors, as well as unhealthy lifestyles. Following a Mediterranean diet (MD), widespread in Europe, is proved to have a protective role for mental health. Our aim was to investigate mental well-being and adherence to the MD in university students. Methods In 2019, a cross-sectional study was performed in Turin, Italy. Totally, 502 university students were enrolled. A socio-demographic form, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMBS), were used. Mainly, multivariable linear and logistic regressions were performed to investigate potential predictors of adherence to the MD and of psychological well-being (p < 0.05 considered significant). Results The 24% of the sample resulted at high risk of depression (WEMWBS score<40) and the 22.7% at high risk of psychological distress (WEMWBS score 41-45). The median MEDAS score was 6 (IQR=2, non-normal distribution) in a possible range between 0 and 14 (the higher is the score, the higher is the adherence). Preliminary results showed that a MEDAS score ≥6 was associated to a lower risk of depression (OR = 0.78, p = 0.006). Not being on time with university exams (OR = 2.65, p = 0.002) and not having an excellent health status (OR = 1.94, p = 0.23) led to a higher depression risk instead. The main variables that had a negative association with MD adherence were WEMWBS<40 (coef=-0.65, p = 0.001) and not cooking personally (coef=-0.30, p = 0.04). Conclusions Students who reported greater adherence to the MD were those with the lowest risk of depression. The potential protective role that MD has for mental health in young adults could be used to help developing more comprehensive intervention strategies of health promotion among European university students. Key messages Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and good mental health seem to be related in a sample of university students analyzed through multivariable regressions. European policies and strategies addressing unhealthy lifestyles and encouraging Mediterranean diet adherence could be useful to improve well-being and mental health of university students.

scholarly journals Changes in mental health during three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study among polish university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra M. Rogowska ◽  
Dominika Ochnik ◽  
Cezary Kuśnierz ◽  
Karolina Chilicka ◽  
Monika Jakubiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Research indicates that mental health worsened during the Coronavirus crisis, in particular among women and university students. However, few longitudinal studies have so far investigated the changes in mental health outcomes across three subsequent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to examine changes in mental health among university students. Methods A total of 1,961university students from Poland, at mean age 23.23 years (SD = 3.16, 57.47% of women) were included in this repeated cross-sectional study across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: W1 (n = 657), W2 (n = 654), and W3 (n = 650). They completed the online survey with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), General Self-Rated Health (GSRH), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), as well as sociodemographic variables. Results The prevalence of people at high risk of anxiety and perceived stress, poorer physical health, and low life satisfaction changed significantly across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the two-way ANOVA showed that both the wave (W1<W2<W3) and gender (men<women) had a significant impact on the level of anxiety. Statistically significant changes in perceived stress were found between pandemic waves (W1>W2, W1>W3), and genders (men<women). Self-reported physical health significantly deteriorated in W3 compared to W1 and W2 (W1>W3, W2>W3), and was significantly worse in women than in men. The level of life satisfaction also decreased significantly in W3 (W1>W3, W2>W3), but did not differ between men and women. High GAD risk was presented two times more frequently among women and people who subjectively assessed their health as poor, three times more likely in participants dissatisfied with their lives, and seven times more probably in persons with high-stress levels. Conclusions The results of this study consistently indicate (using parametric and non-parametric statistical analysis) that there are significant differences in mental health problems across three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. It suggests that pandemic waves should be considered in future review studies and meta-analyses. Furthermore, these findings indicate a potential role for prevention and intervention programs aimed at alleviating life satisfaction and subjective assessment of health and improving coping skills to reduce stress and anxiety.

Sex-specific associations between sleep and mental health in university students: a large cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Montagni ◽  
Sarah Qchiqach ◽  
Edwige Pereira ◽  
Phillip J. Tully ◽  
Christophe Tzourio
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals STIGMA AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47
Author(s):  
Sangeeta Roop Kaur Despande ◽  
Irma Wati binti Ngadimon ◽  
Nor Liana Che Yaacob
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Health Disorders

The number of mental health problems among the young people in Malaysia is increasing, and this is worrying. Prompt action is needed as the young generation especially university students are the future leaders of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the level of stigma and attitudes of university students towards mental health disorders since limited study regarding this issue conducted in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study design whereby 496 students from MAHSA University were asked to complete a pre-validated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three main sections which were demographic, measures of knowledge and attitudes of respondents towards mental health disorders. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between knowledge score of the different age groups, ethnicity, faculty and current education level of respondents. Besides that, significant differences were reported between attitude score of the different age groups, faculty and current education level of the respondents. It was also found that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between mental health knowledge and attitudes towards mental health disorders. Overall, the respondents displayed good knowledge and attitude towards mental health disorders.

scholarly journals The Association between Depressive Symptoms and Self-Rated Health among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in France and Japan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mami Ishida ◽  
Ilaria Montagni ◽  
Keiichi Matsuzaki ◽  
Tomonari Shimamoto ◽  
Tanguy Cariou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health State ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health

Abstract Background: Depressive disorders in University students have risen dramatically in the past few decades to the extent that students’ mental health has become a current global public health priority. Obtaining information from University students about their mental health is challenging because of potential embarrassment of disclosing one’s concerns and fear of stigmatization. Self-rated health might be a good solution to evaluate mental health state by a simple and neutral indicator. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and self-rated health by sex among University students in France and Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by using two large cohorts of students aged ≥18 years (n=5,655 in Bordeaux, France and n=17,148 in Kyoto, Japan). Depressive symptoms (PHQ-2 scale), Likert scale of self-rated health, socio-demographic characteristics and health habits were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to describe the association between depressive symptoms and other variables including self-rated health, stratified by sex. Results: A high score of PHQ-2 (high depressive symptoms) was associated with poor self-rated health in both cohorts independently of all other variables (OR 2.82, 95%CI 1.99-4.01 in France, OR 7.10, 95%CI 5.76-8.74 in Japan). Although the prevalence of depressive symptoms between sexes was different in French students (males 15.4%, females 25.0%, p<0.001), it was similar in Japanese students (males 3.5%, females 3.3%, p=0.466), who reported less depressive symptoms than French students. The association between depressive symptoms and poor self-rated health was greater in Japanese females (OR 12.40, 95%CI 7.74-20.00) than in males (OR 6.30, 95%CI 4.99-7.95), whereas the strength of the association was almost similar in French students (OR 2.17, 95%CI 0.86-5.47 in males, OR 2.98, 95%CI 2.03-4.38 in females). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were associated with self-rated health among University students in both countries with slightly differences in sex. Self-rated health would be a simple, reliable and universal indicator for healthcare professionals and University staff to identify students at risk of depression.

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