Behavioral Factors Associated with Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Young University Students - A Cross-Sectional Study

Several studies had revealed that following the Mediterranean diet (MD) contributes to beneficial health status and a decreased risk of many chronic diseases. The aim of our study was to assess adherence to MD in Casablanca City and to identify the relationship between MD adherence and sociodemographic and lifestyle parameters. This cross-sectional study concerned 719 subjects with complete dietary data. Data collection was performed using a questionnaire including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. The dietary intake was assessed with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire. The compliance with MD was evaluated with a simplified MD score. Our study showed that high adherence to the MD was characterized by high intakes of vegetables, fruits, pulses, fish, cereals, olive oil, and low meat and dairy consumption according to the Simplified MD score. As regard to the multivariate logistic, being a man, being married, persons with a level of education >6 years, luxurious housing, and consumption of alcohol were associated with a higher adherence to MD, while, the overweight was negatively associated with a higher adherence to MD. Maintaining the traditional MD pattern is crucial for public health; in this way, more research is needed in this area in order to precisely measure these associations.

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Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of depression later in life. A cross sectional study in East Attica, Greece

Global Psychiatry ◽

10.2478/gp-2019-0012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 201-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Konstantinos Argyropoulos ◽

Evangelia Machini

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Older People ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Sleep Disturbances ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depression later in life in an urban area and to investigate the associations between possible risk and protective factors including adherence to a Mediterranean diet.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the active members of the open day-care centres for older people, in East-Attica, Greece. An anonymous questionnaire was developed to collect basic demographic and medical data, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied to screen the elderly for depressive symptoms, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to quantify sleep disturbances and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Statistics was processed with SPSS 24.0.Results154 older adults took part in the study. According to GDS-15, 24.7% (21.4% moderate and 3.2% severe type) screened positive for depressive symptoms. 29.9% of the participants reported inadequate sleep, based on AIS. Depression and insomnia in older participants were more frequent in women than in men, in lower educated, in participants with lower monthly income and in older people with comorbidity (p < 0.05).MDS revealed that adherence to a Mediterranean diet was moderate for 64.3% of the participants, and it was high for 34.4%. Depression diagnosed by a physician, was strongly associated with MDS (p = 0.035) and AIS (p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis results revealed a diet higher in vegetables and lower in poultry and alcohol was associated with decreased likelihood of developing symptoms of depression later in life.ConclusionsOur results support that depression in older adults is common and strongly associated with several risk factors. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may protect against the development of depressive symptoms in older age. Moreover, not only diet but also sleep-deficiency might contribute to the depression later in life.

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Internet Addiction and its Associated Factors Among Dilla University Undergraduate Students, Dilla, Ethiopia, 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-432680/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nebiyu Mengistu ◽

Desalegn Tarekegn ◽

Wondwosen Molla ◽

Seid Shumye

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

University Students ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Internet Addiction ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Internet Use ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract Background: Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupation, urges or behavior regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. Globally, it has been found that the occurrence rate of internet addiction among university students ranges from 0.8% to 47.7%. Despite, there are multiple challenges that related with internet addiction which remains under-recognized and largely ignored by stakeholders and also not well known especially in low income countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted aimed to assess the magnitude of the internet addiction and its associated factors among undergraduate students. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from May 1st to June 1st 2019. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to get a total of 846 undergraduate Students. Data was collected by using self-administered structured questionnaires of Young’s Internet Addiction Test. The collected data was coded and entered into EPIDATA 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 22, Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with internet addiction and statistically significant was considered at P-value <0.05. Results: A total of 846 study participants, giving a response rate were 761 (90%) and the prevalence of internet addiction was 19.4%. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that being male [AOR=1.69, 95% CI: (1.80, 6.41)], probable depression [AOR =3.61, 95% CI (2.40, 5.43)] and khat or caffeinated drinks [AOR=1.86, 95%CI: (1.21, 2.87)] were significantly associated with internet addiction.Conclusion: This study revealed that a high prevalence of internet addiction among Dilla university students and there were various factors associated with increased prevalence of problematic internet use. Therefore, students need to be educated about safe, valuable, and healthy practice of internet use and better to counsel on substance use and its consequences and also psychiatric evaluation (referring for mental health services) to overcome the anticipated increase in internet addiction

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Factors associated with risk sexual behaviours of HIV/STDs infection among university students in Henan, China: a cross-sectional study

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-021-01219-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoan Du ◽

Ling Zhang ◽

Hong Luo ◽

Wenlong Rong ◽

Xianxin Meng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Condom Use ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

Scale Up ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Sexual Behaviours

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify factors associated with risk sexual behaviours and target high-risk groups at risk of HIV/STDs infection among university students. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 November to 31 December 2020 in one university, located in Henan Province. A total of 1602 individuals who reported having ever had sex were analyzed as the subjects of this study. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were applied for this study to assess factors associated with risk sexual behaviours among university students. Results University students who reported having ever had sex accounted for about 9%, with an average age of 19.37 ± 1.03. Of them, having multiple sexual partners and inconsistent condom use during the last 6 months were 37.3% and 35%, respectively. Over 50% of participants had their sexual debut before the age of 18. Bisexual students (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.16, 0.44) and those who lived on over 3000 Yuan per month (AOR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.28, 0.91) were consistently less likely to engage in condom use during the last 6 months. University students who were from high-grade (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.12, 2.18 for sophomore; AOR = 1.84; 95% CI 1.28, 2.65 for junior; AOR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.38, 3.11 for senior), who lived on over 3,000 Yuan per month (AOR = 4.19; 95% CI 2.17, 8.11) or who reported being homosexual (AOR = 3.92; 95% CI 2.17, 7.06) and bisexual (AOR = 33.22; 95% CI 13.11, 84.15) were more likely to have multiple sexual relationships. University students who had sexual debut before the age of 18 were more likely to engage in risk sexual behaviours. Conclusions The prevalence of sexual activity among Chinese university students is generally low, but risk sexual behaviours are of considerable concern. University students with higher living expenses, who are not heterosexual and who are younger at first sexual intercourse tend to engage in risk sexual behaviours. The scale-up of intervention is the need to prevent the expansion of the HIV epidemic among young students.

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Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety Among First-Year University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction ◽

10.1007/s11469-020-00242-y ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Saiful Islam ◽

Rejina Akter ◽

Tajuddin Sikder ◽

Mark D. Griffiths

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

First Year ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

First Year University

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Determinants of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Women from Southern Italy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16162963 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (16) ◽

pp. 2963 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Andrea Maugeri ◽

Martina Barchitta ◽

Valerio Fiore ◽

Giuliana Rosta ◽

Giuliana Favara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mediterranean Populations ◽

Behavioral Determinants ◽

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD)—the dietary pattern usually consumed by Mediterranean populations—can help promote a favorable health status and better quality of life. Uncovering the main factors associated with the adherence to MD may be useful in understanding and counteracting the global shift toward a Western diet, which has been documented also in the Mediterranean region. Here, we evaluated the adherence to MD and its major social and behavioral determinants in women from Catania, Southern Italy. This cross-sectional study included 841 women, aged 25–64 years, with no history of severe diseases. Adherence to MD was assessed by the Food Frequency Questionnaire and Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Associations between variables were tested by multivariable logistic regression analysis and expressed as an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Among social factors, medium and high educational levels were associated with an ideal intake of alcohol (OR = 4.059; 95%CI = 1.311–12.570; p = 0.015; OR = 4.258 95%CI = 1.068–16.976; p = 0.040; respectively), living in a couple with ideal intake of cereals (OR = 2.801 95%CI = 1.188–6.602; p = 0.018), and having children with an ideal intake of fruits (OR = 3.149; 95%CI = 1.245–7.762; p = 0.015). With respect to behaviors, current smoking was negatively associated with an ideal intake of meat (OR = 0.449; 95%CI = 0.0220–0.917; p = 0.028), while more engagement in physical activity was associated with an ideal intake of vegetables (OR = 6.148; 95%CI = 1.506–25.104; p = 0.011) and legumes (OR = 5.832; 95%CI = 1.414–24.063; p = 0.015). In line with these findings, moderately or highly physically active women were more likely to show medium or high adherence to MD than those who performed less physical activity (OR = 6.024; 95%CI = 1.192–30.440; p = 0.040; OR = 9.965 95%CI = 1.683–58.993; p = 0.011; respectively). Our results confirm an urgent need for public health strategies, which should take into account determinants of diet quality. Particularly, our study indicates that more engagement in physical activity is a major positive determinant of the adherence to MD.

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Gender, Age, Geographical Area, Food Neophobia and Their Relationships with the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet: New Insights from a Large Population Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12061778 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1778 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stefano Predieri ◽

Fiorella Sinesio ◽

Erminio Monteleone ◽

Sara Spinelli ◽

Marta Cianciabella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Large Population ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Soft Drinks ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Potential Health ◽

Food Neophobia ◽

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with many health benefits. The association between the MD and food neophobia (FN) is still unexplored in adults. The present cross-sectional study was aimed to explore the relationships between adherence to the MD, FN, and sociodemographic variables in a large Italian cohort. Familiarity and frequency use (FFI) of prototypical and non-prototypical Mediterranean foods were used to calculate a new adherence index: the Italian Taste Mediterranean Index (ITMI). The FFI of all Mediterranean foods increased with age, while butter, soft drinks, red/cured meat, and sweets were more common in younger people. Accordingly, ITMI increased with age (F2,2384 = 54.11; p < 0.0001). Women recorded a higher ITMI (6.70) than men (6.10). Individuals with high FN showed higher FFI for soft drinks and sweets and lower ones for most typical MD foods, than individuals with low FNs. A decrease of ITMI was recorded with the increase of the FN(F2,2384 = 22.84; p < 0.0001). With ageing, ITMI increased even in individuals with a high FN. The results suggest that FN may negatively affect adherence to the MD, lowering its potential health benefits, in the adult population. Monitoring of food habits, dietary education, and anxiety management, may be valuable tools to control FN and support the adherence to the MD.

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