Examining the association of breakfast skipping with sleep disturbance, mental health, and health-related quality of life: data from the 2018 Korean community health survey

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between breakfast skipping and its effects on sleep disorders, mental health, and health-related quality of life among Korean adults.

Methods: Utilizing data from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey, this cross-sectional analysis included 173,272 adults aged 19 years and older. Instruments used for assessment included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, the EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) for health-related quality of life, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep disorders. The complex sample logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounders.

Results: Breakfast skipping was found to be significantly associated with delayed mid-sleep time, an increased propensity for daytime sleepiness, and a notable decline in sleep quality. Additionally, it was linked to a significant increase in depression risk, compromised health-related quality of life, and elevated stress levels across both genders. All five dimensions of the EQ-5D were negatively impacted by breakfast skipping.

Discussion: The findings highlight the detrimental effects of skipping breakfast on sleep patterns, mental health, and overall quality of life, stressing the importance of regular breakfast consumption for enhancing these health outcomes. The study suggests the need for further research to uncover the mechanisms behind these associations and to devise targeted interventions to mitigate the negative impacts of breakfast skipping.

KEYWORDS:

• Skipping breakfast
• depression
• quality of life
• sleep disorders
• mental health
• stress, psychological
• life style
• health behavior

Data availability statement

The datasets for this study can be accessed freely at the following website: https://chs.kdca.go.kr/chs/rdr/rdrInfoDownMain.do, as of 1 June 2023.

Disclosure statement

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

Informed consent statement

In the study, informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the 2023 Inje University research grant.

Notes on contributors

Sung Min Jung

Sung Min Jung, M.D., Ph.D., is currently an associate professor at Inje University. He graduated from Chonbuk National University School of Medicine and obtained his doctor’s license. He completed internship, residency, fellowship courses at Asan medical center, Seoul. Since 2016, he has been an professor of general surgery at Inje University, Ilsan paik Hospital. He is interested in clinical research in the field of colorectal and anal surgery, as well as genetic research related to colorectal cancer. He is also interested in clinical research in the field of parenteral and enteral nutrition and is active in the Korean Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.

Mee-Ri Lee

Mee-Ri Lee, M.D., Ph.D., is currently an assistant professor at Department of Preventive Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine. She graduated from Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine and obtained her doctor’s license. She completed internship and preventive residency courses at Soonchunhyang university hospital, Seoul and Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine. She obtained a Ph.D. degree in preventive medicine from the Seoul National University. She works at WHO collaborating Centre for Healthy cities and Health in all policies. She is interested in nutrition, epidemiology, and environmental health.