Department of Nutrition Student Projects
Submission Date
8-6-2022
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Nutrition Science (MS)
First Mentor
Stephanie Petrosky, D.C.N., M.H.A., RDN, LDN, FAND
Keywords
Mediterranean diet, mental well-being, diet, anxiety, depression
Abstract
The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a well-known healthy dietary pattern that continues to be recommended by literature due to its benefits of preventing chronic diseases and enhancing the overall health of the general public. With an abundance of literature focusing on the physical health benefits of MD, this study aimed to assess whether there is an association between adherence to MD and mental wellness, specifically levels of depression and anxiety. A random sample of 100 participants consented to complete an online survey to assess their adherence to MD and levels of depression and anxiety through the validated questionnaires of 14-item Questionnaire of Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) assessment. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis was used to identify the possible correlations between MD and depression as well as MD and anxiety. The results demonstrated a significant negative correlation for both indicating that adherence to MD is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.
Table 1. Validated 14-Item Questionnaire of Mediterranean Diet Adherence
Picture2.png (39 kB)
Table 2. Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient Analysis
GAD-7_Anxiety-updated_0.pdf (129 kB)
Figure 1. GAD-7 Anxiety Survey to Measure Mental Wellness
Beck-Depression-Inventory-BDI.pdf (62 kB)
Figure 2. Beck’s Depression Inventory to Measure Mental Wellness
NSUWorks Citation
Gabrielle A. Jasmin. 2022. Cross-sectional Analysis of the Relationship Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Mental Wellness. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (4)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_com_nutrition/4.