Little is known about the factors which might influence the adherence to a Mediterranean diet in non-Mediterranean European countries. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to determine the associations between socioeconomic, psychological, and physical factors on a Mediterranean diet. In this cross-sectional study, participants were 14–18-year-old adolescents (N = 3071) from two non-Mediterranean countries: Lithuania (N = 1863) and Serbia (N = 1208). The dependent variable was Mediterranean diet, and was assessed with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents questionnaire. Independent variables were gender, body-mass index, self-rated health, socioeconomic status, psychological distress, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. The associations between dependent and independent variables were analyzed by using logistic regression. Results showed that higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with higher self-rated health, socioeconomic status, and physical activity, yet low adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with being female, having higher body-mass index, psychological distress, and sedentary behavior. Our findings suggest that future studies need to explore associations between lifestyle habits—especially in target populations, such as primary and secondary school students.

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The goal of this research was to develop and validate a physical education (PE) attitude scale (PEAS) for students in early and middle adolescence, based on the contemporary theories of attitudes as a summary evaluation of different information related to the attitude object. In the first study, preliminary version of the scale was administrated on the sample of 547 students. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed 4 factors, named Satisfaction, Comfort, Activity and Teacher. Second order PCA showed that these factors are a part of a single construct, general attitude toward PE. Based on the results of the first study, the final version of the PEAS is constructed, consisting of the 43 items. In the second study, on a new sample of 659 students, construct validity of the PEAS is confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. PEAS has good psychometric properties. External validity of the scale is demonstrated through relations with relevant variables. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III47015, Grant no. 179018]

Abstract:The main purpose of the present study was to determine the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and lifestyle factors. In this cross-sectional study, participants were 3,072 adolescents from two European countries of Lithuania and Serbia. The dependent variable was SES, while independent variables were gender, adherence to a Mediterranean diet, body-mass index, self-rated health, psychological distress, moderateto-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The associations between dependent and independent variables were analysed by using logistic regression analysis. In univariate model, middle/high SES was associated with higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet (p trend = 0.003), good self-rated health (OR 1.51; 95 % CI 1.12 to 2.05) and meeting recommendations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (OR 2.09; 95 % CI 1.45 to 3.00), yet inversely associated with psychological distress (OR 0.81; 95 % CI 0.66 to 0.99) and sedentary behaviour (OR 0.80; 95 % CI 0.68 to 0.94). No associations were found between SES and body-mass index and gender. In multivariate model, the same associations occurred between middle/high SES and lifestyle factors. In conclusion, special strategies and policies, based on more affordable nutrition and participation in moderate-tovigorous physical activity, should be implemented within the system.