Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university
Cross-sectional study investigated the association of fresh or minimally processed foods and ultra-processed food consumption with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in students from a Brazilian public university. Undergraduate students admitted in 2022 answered an online questionnaire durin...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nutritional Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000909/type/journal_article |
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| author | Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José Ivy Evangelista Costa Ramos Taciana Maia de Sousa Daniela Silva Canella |
| author_facet | Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José Ivy Evangelista Costa Ramos Taciana Maia de Sousa Daniela Silva Canella |
| author_sort | Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cross-sectional study investigated the association of fresh or minimally processed foods and ultra-processed food consumption with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in students from a Brazilian public university. Undergraduate students admitted in 2022 answered an online questionnaire during their first semester. Consumption of 12 subgroups of fresh or minimally processed foods and 13 of ultra-processed foods on the previous day were investigated (affirmative answer for ≥ 5 subgroups was classified as high consumption). Depression, anxiety and stress were investigated using the DASS-21 and mild to extremely severe symptoms were grouped to be compared with individuals without symptoms. Adjusted logistic regression models estimated the Odds Ratio (OR) of the association between symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (outcomes) and food consumption (exposures), with a significance level of 5%. A total of 924 students were evaluated, of whom 57.7% presented symptoms of depression, 51.9% of anxiety and 59.4% of stress. A high consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods was observed in 80.3% of the students, with a higher frequency among those without symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while 38.9% showed a high consumption of ultra-processed foods, without differences according to symptoms. High consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower likelihood of symptoms of depression (OR: 0.62; p=0.011), anxiety (OR: 0.58; p=0.003) and stress (OR: 0.69; p=0.043). No association was found between ultra-processed and mental health outcomes. Actions that support and encourage the consumption of healthy food in the university environment can contribute to mental health outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f5f75eecf57842298644acdd83baa789 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2048-6790 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nutritional Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-f5f75eecf57842298644acdd83baa7892025-01-16T21:47:26ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Nutritional Science2048-67902025-01-011410.1017/jns.2024.90Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public universityMaria Eduarda Ribeiro José0Ivy Evangelista Costa Ramos1Taciana Maia de Sousa2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7387-154XDaniela Silva Canella3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9672-4983Programa de Pós-Graduação em Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 12º andar, bloco D e E, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 20550-900, RJ, BrasilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 12º andar, bloco D e E, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 20550-900, RJ, BrasilInstituto de Nutrição – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 12º andar, bloco D e E, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 20550-900, RJ, BrasilInstituto de Nutrição – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 12º andar, bloco D e E, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 20550-900, RJ, BrasilCross-sectional study investigated the association of fresh or minimally processed foods and ultra-processed food consumption with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in students from a Brazilian public university. Undergraduate students admitted in 2022 answered an online questionnaire during their first semester. Consumption of 12 subgroups of fresh or minimally processed foods and 13 of ultra-processed foods on the previous day were investigated (affirmative answer for ≥ 5 subgroups was classified as high consumption). Depression, anxiety and stress were investigated using the DASS-21 and mild to extremely severe symptoms were grouped to be compared with individuals without symptoms. Adjusted logistic regression models estimated the Odds Ratio (OR) of the association between symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (outcomes) and food consumption (exposures), with a significance level of 5%. A total of 924 students were evaluated, of whom 57.7% presented symptoms of depression, 51.9% of anxiety and 59.4% of stress. A high consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods was observed in 80.3% of the students, with a higher frequency among those without symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while 38.9% showed a high consumption of ultra-processed foods, without differences according to symptoms. High consumption of fresh or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower likelihood of symptoms of depression (OR: 0.62; p=0.011), anxiety (OR: 0.58; p=0.003) and stress (OR: 0.69; p=0.043). No association was found between ultra-processed and mental health outcomes. Actions that support and encourage the consumption of healthy food in the university environment can contribute to mental health outcomes.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000909/type/journal_articleDepressionFood consumptionMental disordersNOVA classificationUniversity |
| spellingShingle | Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José Ivy Evangelista Costa Ramos Taciana Maia de Sousa Daniela Silva Canella Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university Journal of Nutritional Science Depression Food consumption Mental disorders NOVA classification University |
| title | Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| title_full | Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| title_fullStr | Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| title_short | Food consumption associated with depression, anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| title_sort | food consumption associated with depression anxiety and stress in students entering a public university |
| topic | Depression Food consumption Mental disorders NOVA classification University |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2048679024000909/type/journal_article |
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