Association between Physical Activity, Food Consumption and Depressive Symptoms Among Young Adults in Spain: Findings of a National Survey

• Published in: Issues in mental health nursing Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 59 - 65
• Main Authors: Debbia, Fabio, Rodríguez-Muñoz, Pedro Manuel, Carmona-Torres, Juan Manuel, Hidalgo-Lopezosa, Pedro, Cobo-Cuenca, Ana Isabel, López-Soto, Pablo Jesús, Rodríguez-Borrego, Maria Aurora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02-01-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cereals; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child psychology; Diet; Exercise; Food consumption; Fruit; Habits; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Nursing; Physical activity; Polls & surveys; Quality of life; Sedentary; Sociodemographics; Susceptibility; Vulnerability; Young adults
• ISSN: 0161-2840; 1096-4673
• DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1672223

Young adults have a significant prevalence of mental disorders, which could lead to dysfunctional quality of life. Records of 1,645 Spanish adolescents were examined and multiple logistic regressions were performed. Being a woman, being older and having a sedentary life were all associated with a higher psychological vulnerability, whereas a low frequency of fresh fruit and bread/cereals consumption, as well as regular intense physical activity, were considered protective against such susceptibility. Regular physical activity and a diet with a high consumption of fruit and cereals may help reduce depressive symptoms, but sociodemographic features are as much as important as lifestyle habits.