Perceptions of university students on nutrition as a useful tool to manage anxiety and depression levels

Year 2023, Issue: 30, 45 - 56, 21.07.2023

Maria Paula Junqueıra-goncalves Mahmut Genç Seda Genç , Anne Majumdar

https://doi.org/10.56833/gidaveyem.1322441

Abstract

Objective: Mental health problems among university students are an emergent public health issue and prevention is crucial. Dietary interventions are currently being investigated as additional treatment options for mental illness. This work aimed (i) to measure and correlate the general status of physical-mental health and diet habits of undergraduate students (n=164, 96 females and 68 males) from different universities, in England and Türkiye; (ii) to develop a specific questionnaire to measure their knowledge on nutrition for mental health (as only general nutrition knowledge questionnaires were available), and (iii) to identify barriers for healthier food choices and sustainable behavioural changes.

Materials and methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional survey. Undergraduate students were invited by email and their participation was voluntary and anonymous. Values were expressed as means and standard deviation. A significance level of 0.05 was set.

Discussion and conclusion: The results showed that more than 1/3 presented a medium to a high level of somatization symptoms while more than 1/4 presented a moderate to severe level of anxiety and depression. Moreover, results showed a significant negative correlation between nutritional knowledge with physical status, anxiety and depression level and a significant positive correlation with adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Cost, time, convenience and no healthy options on campus canteens/restaurants were the main reported barriers against a healthier diet. Most of the students showed poor nutritional knowledge on how nutrition may impact mental health, but a high interest in learning about nutrition to improve their physical and mental health. Nutrition education and the support of a nutritional team may be alternative tools at the universities to help students manage their anxiety/depression, general health status and academic performance.

Keywords

nutrition, mental health, anxiety, depression, nutritional knowledge, university students

Üniversite öğrencilerinin kaygı ve depresyon düzeylerini yönetmek için yararlı bir araç olan beslenmeye ilişkin algıları

Abstract

Amaç: Üniversite öğrencilerinde görülen mental sağlık sorunları acil çözüme kavuşması gereken bir halk sağlığı sorunu olup, bu sorunun önlenmesi büyük önem arz etmektedir. Günümüzde diyet uygulamalarının mental sağlığı iyileştirme çalışmaları ek tedavi seçeneği olarak araştırılmaktadır. Bu çalışma ile (i) İngiltere ve Türkiye’de bulunan farklı üniversitelerde eğitim gören lisans öğrencilerinin (n=164, 96 kadın ve 68 erkek) beden-mental sağlığı ve beslenme alışkanlıklarının genel durumunu ölçmek ve ilişkilendirmek; (ii) mental sağlık için beslenme konusundaki bilgilerini ölçmek amacıyla özel bir anket geliştirmek (yalnızca genel beslenme bilgisi anketleri mevcut olduğundan) ve (iii) kesitsel bir anket kullanılarak daha sağlıklı gıda seçimleri ve sürdürülebilir davranış değişikliklerinin önündeki engelleri belirlemek amaçlanmıştır.

Materyal ve yöntem: Çalışma, kesitsel bir araştırma olarak yapılandırılmış olup, lisans öğrencileri e-posta ile çalışmaya davet edilmiş, katılımları gönüllük esasına göre isimleri gizli tutulmuştur. Çalışmada değerler ortalama ve standart sapma olarak ifade edilmiş ve anlamlılık düzeyi 0,05 olarak belirlenmiştir.

Tartışma ve sonuç: Çalışmanın sonuçları, öğrencilerin 1/4’ten fazlasının orta ile şiddetli düzeyde anksiyete ve depresyon, 1/3’ten fazlasının ise orta ile yüksek düzeyde somatizasyon belirtileri olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca, beslenme bilgisi ile fiziksel durum, anksiyete ve depresyon düzeyi arasında anlamlı bir negatif korelasyon, beslenme bilgisi ile Akdeniz diyetine bağlılık arasında ise anlamlı bir pozitif korelasyon olduğunu göstermiştir. Daha sağlıklı beslenmenin önündeki başlıca engeller maliyet, zaman, kolaylık ve kampüs kantinlerinde/restoranlarında sağlıklı seçeneklerin olmaması olarak belirlenmiştir. Öğrencilerin çoğunun beslenmenin mental sağlık üzerindeki etkisi konusunda yetersiz bilgiye sahip olduğu, ancak fiziksel ve mental sağlıklarını iyileştirmek için beslenmeyi öğrenmeye büyük ilgi duydukları görülmüştür. Beslenme eğitimi ve bir beslenme ekibinin desteği, üniversitelerde öğrencilerin kaygı/depresyon, genel sağlık durumu ve akademik performanslarını yönetmelerine yardımcı olacak alternatif araçlar olabileceği değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

beslenme, mental sağlık, anksiyete, depresyon, beslenme bilgisi, üniversite öğrencileri

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