Poor Dietary Quality and Patterns Are Associated with Higher Perceived Stress among Women of Reproductive Age in the UK

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between stress and diet quality/patterns among women of reproductive age in UK. In total, 244 reproductive aged women participated in an online survey consisting of the European Prospective into Cancer and Nutrition food frequency questionnaire in addition to stress, depression, physical-activity, adiposity, and socioeconomic questions. An a-priori diet quality index was derived by assessing the adherence to Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMD). A-posteriori dietary-patterns (DPs) were explored through factor analysis. Regression models were used to assess the predictors of the DPs. Participants mainly had medium (n = 113) aMD adherence. Higher stress levels were reported by participants with low aMD adherence. Participants with high aMD adherence were of normal BMI. Factor analysis revealed three DPs: fats and oils, sugars, snacks, alcoholic-beverages, red/processed meat, and cereals (DP-1), fish and seafood, eggs, milk and milk-products (DP-2), and fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds (DP-3). Regression models showed that DP-1 was positively associated with stress (p = 0.005) and negatively with age (p = 0.004) and smoking (p = 0.005). DP-2 was negatively associated with maternal educational-level (p = 0.01) while DP-3 was negatively associated with stress (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.001), and white ethnicity (p = 0.01). Stress was negatively associated with healthy diet quality/patterns among reproductive aged women.

Diet quality as a mediator in the relationship between perceived stress and depression among family caregivers of patients with chronic illness in Saudi Arabia

“…This research finds perceived stress to be significantly associated with diet quality, concurring with prior research. 27,28,41,42 Further research identified that stress judged medium-to-high as producing a greater chance of being recorded by individuals with diet quality issues. 41 When considering prior research findings, complex two-way dynamics appear to be present between diet quality and perceived stress.…”

“…27,28,41,42 Further research identified that stress judged medium-to-high as producing a greater chance of being recorded by individuals with diet quality issues. 41 When considering prior research findings, complex two-way dynamics appear to be present between diet quality and perceived stress. As a result of varying stressor concentrations and durations, diet may fluctuate in terms of quality and quantity, which may impact the overall diet quality results.…”

“…Within previous research, participants found to have the poorest diet quality were more at risk of experiencing the severest depressive episodes, according to comparisons with participants who maintained better diets. 29,41 One consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is that transformations in both diet and lifestyle have occurred quite significantly among caregivers as wide-scale lockdowns became necessary. 43 A range of potential biological factors can potentially lead to declining diet quality and heighten the likelihood of depression.…”

A Systematic Review of Studies Examining Associations between Sleep Characteristics with Dietary Intake and Eating Behaviors during Pregnancy

“…Beyond specific nutrients and supplements, dietary guidelines also recommend healthy diet in the form of diet quality. Poor diet quality is associated with an increased risk for obesity, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, congenital infections, abnormal fetal growth, and childhood obesity [19,[24][25][26][27]. National and international guidelines provide recommendations about appropriate weight gain and healthy nutrition in pregnancy [28][29][30][31].…”

Is lifestyle Modification the Key to Counter Chronic Diseases?

“…On the other hand, as stated by Stoiloudis et al, healthy nutrition shows promising beneficial effects in terms of slowing down multiple sclerosis activity and progression [ 15 ]. Moreover, healthy nutrition may protect against anxiety and psychosocial maladjustment, as shown by Freret et al in animal studies and by Khaled et al in human studies [ 16 , 17 ].…”