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

Abstract

Objective

This study is aimed to explore severe mental illness (SMI), mental well-being (MWB), and Mediterranean Diet adherence (MedDiet) among university students.

Participants

University students in Northern Italy (sample size = 502)

Methods

Cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019. The questionnaires included Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale for MWB, K6 for SMI, Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener for MedDiet. Multivariable regressions were mainly performed (p < .05 as significant).

Results

MWB was high in 3.93% of the participants and low in 23.97%. SMI was probable in 21.87%. MedDiet adherence was high in 2.19% and low in 35.06%. Mainly, poor/very poor perceived health, Economics/Legal/Strategic Sciences courses, and not being on time with exams showed associations with both lower MWB and probable SMI. Gender and some lifestyle, dietary, and university factors predicted MedDiet. MWB and MedDiet were positively associated.

Conclusions

This study found high levels of mental issues and low MedDiet. Modifiable factors at university level should be investigated to design preventive interventions.

Keywords:

• Mediterranean diet
• mental health
• psychological distress
• students
• universities

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, FB, upon reasonable request.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. The Ethics Committee of the University of Torino approved the protocol.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Italy and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of University of Torino.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.