Zhang Zhen, Tang Nana, Yao Mengjin, Li Tao
School of Physical Education, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian, China.
College of Education, Tibet University, Lhasa, China.
Front Nutr. 2025 May 29;12:1582167. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1582167. eCollection 2025.
Depressive symptoms are spreading globally with increasing life stress and have become an important public health issue. However, fewer studies have been conducted on the association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), and depressive symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitudes. The present study may provide a reference for the mental health development of Tibetan university students at high altitudes.
In this study, SSBs consumption, MVPA time objectively measured by Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer, and depressive symptoms were assessed in 1,062 university students aged 19-22 years from two universities in Lhasa, Tibet, and Xining, Qinghai, China, using stratified randomized whole-cluster sampling. The methods of chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and ordered logistic regression analysis with a generalized linear model were used to analyze the association between SSBs consumption, MVPA levels, and the presence of depressive symptoms.
It was found that the proportions of Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China with SSBs 3-5 times/week and ≥6 times/week were 24.3% and 20.3%, respectively. The proportion of MVPA >60 min/day was only 5.6%. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 37.5%. Ordered logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates showed that, in general, for those with SSBs ≤2 times/week and MVPA >60 min/day, there was a positive association between those with SSBs ≥6 times/week and MVPA 30-60 min/day and the occurrence of depressive symptoms (OR = 5.92, 95% CI: 1.94-18.10). Those with SSBs ≥6 times/week and MVPA <30 min/day were also positively associated ( < 0.001) with the occurrence of depressive symptoms (OR = 5.91, 95% CI: 2.19-15.94).
The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitudes in China is concerning. Higher SSB consumption and lower MVPA were associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. The findings of this study may provide necessary references and lessons for the government and educational departments to develop public health and educational measures for university students in high-altitude areas.
随着生活压力的增加，抑郁症状正在全球范围内蔓延，已成为一个重要的公共卫生问题。然而，关于高海拔地区藏族大学生饮用含糖饮料（SSB）、中等到高强度身体活动（MVPA）与抑郁症状之间关联的研究较少。本研究可为高海拔地区藏族大学生的心理健康发展提供参考。
在本研究中，采用分层随机整群抽样方法，对来自中国西藏拉萨和青海西宁两所大学的1062名19 - 22岁大学生的SSB饮用情况、通过Actigraph GT3X +加速度计客观测量的MVPA时间以及抑郁症状进行了评估。使用卡方检验、逻辑回归分析以及广义线性模型的有序逻辑回归分析方法，分析SSB饮用情况、MVPA水平与抑郁症状存在之间的关联。
发现中国高海拔地区藏族大学生每周饮用3 - 5次和≥6次SSB的比例分别为24.3%和20.3%。MVPA>60分钟/天的比例仅为5.6%。抑郁症状的患病率为37.5%。经协变量调整的有序逻辑回归分析表明，总体而言，对于每周饮用SSB≤2次且MVPA>60分钟/天的人群，每周饮用SSB≥6次且MVPA为30 - 60分钟/天的人群与抑郁症状的发生呈正相关（OR = 5.92，95%CI：1.94 - 18.10）。每周饮用SSB≥6次且MVPA<30分钟/天的人群也与抑郁症状的发生呈正相关（<0.001）（OR = 5.91，95%CI：2.19 - 15.94）。
中国高海拔地区藏族大学生抑郁症状的患病率令人担忧。较高的SSB摄入量和较低的MVPA与较高的抑郁症状患病率相关。本研究结果可为政府和教育部门制定高海拔地区大学生的公共卫生和教育措施提供必要的参考和借鉴。
