Association between Mediterranean lifestyle and perception of well-being and distress in a sample population of university Italian students

Abstract

We investigated the extent to which adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in combination with Mediterranean lifestyle factors influenced students’ perceptions of subjective well-being (SWB) and distress. 939 undergraduates completed a survey to assess sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, including adherence to the MD, depression, anxiety, stress, and SWB. Data were analysed with correlation, logistic, and multiple linear regression models. Higher adherence to MD correlated with better SWB. Fruit, red meat, sweet and caffeinated beverages contributed significantly. However, it was the combination of adherence to MD with other factors, including quality of social relationships, income, smoking, sleep, and physical activity that better predicted SWB. Our results confirm the positive influence of MD on SWB. However, they also suggest the need to consider perceptions of well-being by a more holistic approach that considers physical and social factors simultaneously to improve the development of more effective educational and motivational programmes.

Keywords:

• Subjective wellbeing (SWB)
• distress
• Mediterranean diet and lifestyle factors
• university students
• lifestyle factors

Author contributions

Stefano Quarta and Marika Massaro conceptualized and designed the study; Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro Annalisa Levante, Flavia Lecciso, Fabio Pollice, María-Teresa García-Conesa and Luisa Siculella designed research; Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Nadia Calabriso and María-Teresa García-Conesa, coordinated data collection and transfer; Stefano Quarta analyzed data and performed statistical analysis; Marika Massaro María-Teresa García-Conesa, Nadia Calabriso, Egeria Scoditti, Luisa Siculella, Annalisa Levante, Flavia Lecciso, Fabrizio Damiano and Paula Pinto assisted with literature review and data analysis; Marika Massaro drafted the final manuscript; Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro, Annalisa Levante, Flavia Lecciso, Fabrizio Damiano, Fabio Pollice, Paula Pinto, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Luisa Siculella, and María-Teresa García-Conesa performed final review and editing; all authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors report no conflicts of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Results attained in this study are included in the manuscript. Individual data are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.