Araştırma Makalesi

Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics

Cilt: 7 Sayı: 3 21 Ekim 2025
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Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics

Abstract

Aim: The link between carbohydrate quality and mental health outcomes-specifically depression, anxiety, and stress-remains underexplored. This study investigates the potential impact of the Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI) on these psychological parameters in women. Method: This cross-sectional study included adult women attending a diet clinic in Bursa, Türkiye. Dietary data were used to calculate the CQI, a composite index based on dietary fiber intake, glycemic index (GI), the ratio of whole to refined grains, and the physical form of carbohydrates (solid vs. liquid). Mental health status was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42). Data were summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, and group differences were analyzed with suitable statistical methods based on the data distribution. Results: A total of 140 women participated, with a mean age of 34.3 years. The average CQI score was 11.9 ± 3.2. According to DASS-42 results, a majority reported moderate levels of depression (76.4%), anxiety (67.9%), and stress (69.2%). When participants were grouped into CQI quintiles, a significant inverse association was observed: as CQI increased from Q1 to Q5, depression scores declined (mean: 11 vs. 2; p = 0.007), as did anxiety (8.4 vs. 3.9; p = 0.010) and stress levels (15 vs. 9; p = 0.007). Conclusion: These findings suggest that higher carbohydrate quality may be linked to better mental health in women. Dietary interventions aimed at improving carbohydrate quality could offer a supportive strategy for managing depression, anxiety, and stress. Additional studies are required to examine the primary mechanisms and prolonged outcomes.

Keywords

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval was obtained from the Noninvasive Research Ethics Committee of Yeditepe University (Approval Date: 11.03.2022; Approval No: 202203YO188). Signed consent forms were collected from all study volunteers before their participation in the research. The trial registration number is not required.

Kaynakça

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Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Beslenme Epidemiyolojisi

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

21 Ekim 2025

Gönderilme Tarihi

10 Eylül 2025

Kabul Tarihi

17 Ekim 2025

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2025 Cilt: 7 Sayı: 3

Kaynak Göster

APA
İncekara, B., & Dumlu Bilgin, G. (2025). Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi, 7(3), 161-172. https://doi.org/10.57224/jhpr.1780826
AMA
1.İncekara B, Dumlu Bilgin G. Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics. Sağlık Pro Arş Dergisi. 2025;7(3):161-172. doi:10.57224/jhpr.1780826
Chicago
İncekara, Berre, ve Gözde Dumlu Bilgin. 2025. “Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics”. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi 7 (3): 161-72. https://doi.org/10.57224/jhpr.1780826.
EndNote
İncekara B, Dumlu Bilgin G (01 Ekim 2025) Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi 7 3 161–172.
IEEE
[1]B. İncekara ve G. Dumlu Bilgin, “Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics”, Sağlık Pro Arş Dergisi, c. 7, sy 3, ss. 161–172, Eki. 2025, doi: 10.57224/jhpr.1780826.
ISNAD
İncekara, Berre - Dumlu Bilgin, Gözde. “Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics”. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi 7/3 (01 Ekim 2025): 161-172. https://doi.org/10.57224/jhpr.1780826.
JAMA
1.İncekara B, Dumlu Bilgin G. Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics. Sağlık Pro Arş Dergisi. 2025;7:161–172.
MLA
İncekara, Berre, ve Gözde Dumlu Bilgin. “Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics”. Sağlık Profesyonelleri Araştırma Dergisi, c. 7, sy 3, Ekim 2025, ss. 161-72, doi:10.57224/jhpr.1780826.
Vancouver
1.Berre İncekara, Gözde Dumlu Bilgin. Are Your Carbohydrate Choices Fueling Depression, Anxiety, and Stress? Unpacking the Link between Diet and Mental Health in Women Attending Diet Clinics. Sağlık Pro Arş Dergisi. 01 Ekim 2025;7(3):161-72. doi:10.57224/jhpr.1780826

SAĞLIK PROFESYONELLERİ ARAŞTIRMA DERGİSİ / JOURNAL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RESEARCH /J HEALTH PRO RES