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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine

Published in:

01-09-2016 | Regular Article

A pilot study of the relationship between diet and mental health in female university students enrolled in a training course for registered dietitians

Authors: Kazumi Dokai Mochimasu, Nobuyuki Miyatake, Ayako Hase

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 5/2016

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the present pilot study was to investigate the link between diet and mental health in female university students enrolled in a training course for registered dietitians.

Subjects and methods

A total of 62 female university students, with a mean age of 18.79 ± 0.45 years, participated in this cross-sectional study. Diet surveys were performed using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). Mental health was also evaluated using the general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), which was the shortest form and clinically available. Lifestyles such as physical activity levels were also evaluated.

Results

The mean energy intake was 1379 ± 575 kcal and the mean GHQ score was 3.11 ± 2.41. Among nutrients, vegetable fat and sucrose showed a weak positive correlation with the GHQ scores. Among food groups, potatoes, fats and oils, and confectioneries also showed a weak positive correlation with the GHQ scores. A multiple regression analysis showed that the confectioneries were the determining factor for the GHQ scores.

Conclusion

Proper education concerning their diets and reducing confectioneries in their daily lives might be beneficial for the mental health of female university students.

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Title: A pilot study of the relationship between diet and mental health in female university students enrolled in a training course for registered dietitians
Authors: Kazumi Dokai Mochimasu
Nobuyuki Miyatake
Ayako Hase
Publication date: 01-09-2016
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-016-0535-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

A pilot study of the relationship between diet and mental health in female university students enrolled in a training course for registered dietitians

Abstract

Objective

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

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