Dietary diversity and mental health in preschoolers in rural China

Li, Shaoping; Chen, Kevin; Liu, Chengfang; Bi, Jieying; He, Zhenya; Luo, Renfu; Yu, Yanying; Wang, Zimeiyi

doi:10.1017/s1368980020003237

Cited by 14 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In the present study, only 4.62% of preschoolers met these recommendations (data not shown), in which they were reported to eat an average of more than 25 foods per week. We also found that eating more than 12 types of food was significantly beneficial for boys' and girls' psychosocial development, which is consistent with the studies on rural Chinese preschoolers ( 6 ), which focused on dietary diversity and suggested that this diversity was an important strategy to improve child mental health. Upon further analysis, we found that the association between food categories and aspects of mental health were similarly significant.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Globally, it is estimated that 10-20% of children and adolescents experience a mental disorder in their lifetime (2,5). In China, approximately 70% of children have at least one mental health problem (6). Multiple factors affect a child's mental health, and these may include ethnic or sexual backgrounds (2), parental disorders and parenting style (7)(8)(9), media influence (10)(11)(12)(13), physical activity (11,13,14), sleep disorders (15,16), and dietary behaviors (17,18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of diet and mental health problem among Chinese children are emerging but sparse. One study focused on preschoolers in rural China suggested that dietary diversity was related to improving children's mental health ( 6 ). Liang et al centered on left-behind children and found that lower frequencies of eating breakfast and fruits were significant factors associated with higher risks of mental health problems ( 23 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association between food intake and mental health problems among preschoolers in China

Jin¹,

Liang²,

Miao³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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ObjectiveOur knowledge of associations between specific types of food and mental health problems in preschool children, an important developmental period, remains scarce. Using a large sample size and a brief measure, we aimed to examine associations between food groups and mental health problems in preschoolers.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 19,548 preschoolers in nine counties in China using a two-stage cluster sampling method. Information on food frequencies, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep conditions was collected by a parent-reported questionnaire. Mental health status was assessed by a parent-reported Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ). Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. Relationships between specific types of food groups and mental health status were examined using multivariable regression modeling.ResultsOf the present study sample, 47.45% of children were girls. Boys had higher scores relating to total difficulties, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems than girls but lower scores in emotional symptoms and prosocial behavior. Children with more types of food categories tended to get lower SDQ total scores even after adjusting for confounding variables (p < 0.0001). The subscale scores of SDQ varied depending on the types and numbers of food consumed. Notably, boys' mental health problems were more likely to be associated with their consumed food type. Processed meat frequency intake among boys and girls was positively related to prosocial behavior (Girls: pickled food: p = 0.003, fried food: p < 0.0001, barbecued food: p = 0.006, smoked food: p = 0.005; Boys: pickled food: p = 0.3, fried food: p < 0.0001, barbecued food: p = 0.006, smoked food: p = 0.005) and negatively associated with the SDQ total and the other subscale scores (Girls: pickled food: p ≤ 0.02, fried food: p ≤ 0.005 except for emotions (p = 0.1), barbecued food: p ≤ 0.047, smoked food: p ≤ 0.04 (except for emotions (p = 0.06) and conduct behaviors (p = 0.2)); Boys: pickled food: p < 0.01 except for hyperactivity (p = 0.5), fried food: p ≤ 0.005 except for emotions (p = 0.1), barbecued food: p ≤ 0.007 except for hyperactivity (p = 0.8), smoked food: p ≤ 0.001 except for hyperactivity (p = 0.1) and peer problem (p = 0.08)). Adequate intake frequency of confectionery (2–4 times/week) was beneficial to their emotions, conduct, and total difficulties and was also beneficial for peer and prosocial behavior for boys (Girls: emotions: p = 0.02, conduct: p = 0.02, hyperactivity: p = 0.4, peer: p = 0.06, total difficulties: p = 0.01, prosocial behavior: p = 0.1; Boys: emotions: p = 0.009, conduct: p = 0.0009, hyperactivity: p = 0.7, peer: p = 0.02: total difficulties: p = 0.003, prosocial behavior: p = 0.0002).ConclusionDiverse food categories and adequate frequency of confectionery were found to be beneficial for children's mental health, with the exception of processed meat. These findings provide novel information and supportive data for children's dietary guidelines and the improvement of mental health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Association between food intake and mental health problems among preschoolers in China

Jin¹,

Liang²,

Miao³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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show abstract

“…Considering the impact that a nutrient deficit can have on children’s cognition, it is important to know how families consider balancing their diet in terms of quantity and quality of food, and how secure they feel about the familiar nutritional intake. Regarding this, studies conducted in China with samples aged from 6 months to 5 years old have shown that dietary diversity is related with attention, motor, and executive tasks, being balancing diets related with better scores ( Li et al, 2021 ; Zhao et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Mens sana in corpore Sano’: Home food consumption implications over child cognitive performance in vulnerable contexts

Company-Córdoba

Accerenzi²,

Simpson³

et al. 2022

Front. Psychol.

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Diet directly affects children’s physical and mental development. Nonetheless, how food insecurity and household food consumption impact the cognitive performance of children at risk of social exclusion remains poorly understood. In this regard, children in Guatemala face various hazards, mainly related to the socioeconomic difficulties that thousands of families have in the country. The main objective of this study was to analyze the differences in cognitive performance considering food insecurity and household food consumption in a sample of rural and urban Guatemalan children and adolescents at risk of social exclusion. Child cognitive performance was assessed in 134 children and adolescents (age M = 11.37; SD = 3.54) from rural and urban settings. Language, attention, and executive functions were assessed using neuropsychological tasks. Differences in cognitive performance in each level of food insecurity and household diet consumption were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors may influence cognitive scores. The results showed that rural and urban groups did not differ in terms of food insecurity. However, considering just rural areas, differences were found between groups with food security and insecurity in attention and executive function tasks. Moreover, differences were found in food consumption for certain groups of food (e.g., meat, U = 1,146, p < 0.001, g = 0.72). Regarding regressions, protein food consumption (e.g., meat and fish), which is related to having a more balanced diet, was a relevant factor in executive performance. Contrary to what we expected, performance in attentional tasks was not related to the consumption of any food group. These findings could help politicians and decision-makers to select actions focused on improving diet balance and food security in families at risk of social exclusion. It is necessary to carry out more specific studies on the factors related to diet that affect the cognitive development of minors at risk of social exclusion. In addition, it is necessary to study the implementation of alternative interventions that include low-cost nutrients, thus ensuring that minors have access to a more balanced diet.

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“…Preschool children are in a critical period of growth, cognitive, social, and psychological development creating a high demand for various nutrients in their life ( 5 , 6 ). However, malnutrition and dietary imbalance in the preschool period will not only cause severe growth problems but also adversely affect their health in adulthood, such as intellectual disability and increased risk of chronic diseases ( 7 , 8 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary diversity is associated with nutrient adequacy, blood biomarkers and anthropometric status among preschool children in poor ethnic minority area of Northwest China

Tang

Wang

et al. 2022

Front. Nutr.

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IntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate the status of dietary diversity, nutrient adequacy, blood biomarkers of nutrients, and anthropometric status, as well as to determine the predictors of dietary diversity score (DDS) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) among preschool children in poor ethnic minority areas of northwest China.MethodsA total of 578 healthy preschool children aged 3–6 from 17 kindergartens were selected to assess dietary intake, anthropometric status (height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), and blood biomarkers. DDS and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were adopted to assess dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy, respectively.ResultsThe mean DDS (ranging from 1 to 9) was relatively low (4.67 ± 1.56). Most participants consumed starchy staples, but few participants consumed organ meat. DDS was associated with serum potassium, serum iron, WAZ, HAZ, all NARs, and MAR (all p < 0.05). Living in urban areas (β = 0.158), higher household wealth (β = 0.116), and more caregivers’ nutritional knowledge (β = 0.022) were positively associated with DDS (all p < 0.01), while living in urban areas (β = 0.031), higher education of caregivers (β = 0.0.027), and higher DDS (β = 0.049) were positively associated with MAR (all p < 0.01).DiscussionIn conclusion, dietary diversity was associated with nutrient adequacy and other health outcomes. Nutritional education and poverty alleviation are integral to improving the nutritional status of preschool children.

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Dietary diversity and mental health in preschoolers in rural China

Cited by 14 publications

References 38 publications

Association between food intake and mental health problems among preschoolers in China

Association between food intake and mental health problems among preschoolers in China

‘Mens sana in corpore Sano’: Home food consumption implications over child cognitive performance in vulnerable contexts

Dietary diversity is associated with nutrient adequacy, blood biomarkers and anthropometric status among preschool children in poor ethnic minority area of Northwest China

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