Tuck Nicola-Jayne, Farrow Claire, Thomas Jason M
School of Psychology, Aston University.
Br J Nutr. 2022 May 26;129(4):1-26. doi: 10.1017/S0007114522001660.
While there is growing interest in the link between diet and psychological health, there is a surprising lack of studies investigating the precise associations between nutrient-rich foods (such as fruit and vegetables) versus nutrient-poor foods (such as energy-dense savoury and sweet snacks), and psychological health. Similarly, the psychological processes underpinning the relationship between dietary intake and psychological health remain unclear. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary consumption and psychological health, with cognitive processes as a theoretical mediator. This cross-sectional online study included 428 healthy adults (53% female; mean age= 39.7, SD= 13.0), with participants completing a range of validated questionnaires measuring dietary habits and psychological health. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that more frequent consumption of fruit was associated with reduced symptoms of depression (β = -.109, p = 0.025) and greater positive psychological wellbeing (β = .187, p < 0.001). Conversely, more frequent savoury snacking was associated with increased anxiety (β = .127, p = 0.005). Further, mediation analyses revealed that more frequent consumption of savoury snacks was associated with increased symptoms of depression, stress, anxiety, and reduced psychological wellbeing, via an increase in cognitive failures (ps < 0.001). These results provide new insights on the independent associations between certain types of food and psychological health, and the psychological mechanisms that may mediate these. Further work is now required to establish causality and determine whether these may represent modifiable dietary targets that can directly (and indirectly) influence our psychological health.
尽管人们对饮食与心理健康之间的联系越来越感兴趣，但令人惊讶的是，缺乏研究来调查营养丰富的食物（如水果和蔬菜）与营养匮乏的食物（如能量密集的咸味和甜味零食）与心理健康之间的确切关联。同样，饮食摄入与心理健康之间关系的心理过程仍不清楚。因此，本研究旨在以认知过程作为理论中介，探讨饮食消费与心理健康之间的关系。这项横断面在线研究包括428名健康成年人（53%为女性；平均年龄 = 39.7，标准差 = 13.0），参与者完成了一系列经过验证的问卷，测量饮食习惯和心理健康。逐步多元回归分析显示，更频繁地食用水果与抑郁症状减轻（β = -0.109，p = 0.025）和更高的积极心理健康水平（β = 0.187，p < 0.001）相关。相反，更频繁地食用咸味零食与焦虑增加（β = 0.127，p = 0.005）相关。此外，中介分析显示，更频繁地食用咸味零食通过认知失误的增加，与抑郁、压力、焦虑症状增加以及心理健康水平降低相关（p < 0.001）。这些结果为某些类型的食物与心理健康之间的独立关联以及可能介导这些关联的心理机制提供了新的见解。现在需要进一步的研究来确定因果关系，并确定这些是否可能代表可改变的饮食目标，从而直接（和间接）影响我们的心理健康。
