Associations of dietary patterns, socio-demographic, lifestyle characteristics and stressful life events with severity of depressive symptoms among NDU students in Lebanon : a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: major depression is classified as a global health priority and burden on societies. Lately, the role of diet and lifestyle factors in aggravating or attenuating depressive symptoms has started to gain interest among the scientific community worldwide. Objective: the purpose of this study is to identify the association of dietary patterns, socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, and stressful life events, with severity of depressive symptoms among NDU students. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study of 457 randomly selected undergraduate students at NDU who were asked to complete a self-administered survey constructed of four sections; FFQ, background questionnaire, IPAQ – short form and PHQ-9. Height, weight WC, and blood pressure of all subjects were measured following standard techniques. Statistical analysis: dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess determinants of the various patterns and their association with severity of depressive symptoms. Results: the sample consisted of 457 undergraduate students with a mean age of 21.28 (63% males). Five patterns were identified: ‘Traditional Lebanese’, ‘Western fast food’, ‘Dairy’, ‘Lebanese fast food’ and ‘Fruits’. The Western fast food diet was positively associated with male gender, reduced number of meals/day, reduced frequency of breakfast consumption and snacking. The Lebanese fast food pattern was positively associated with consuming meals while watching TV. The scores of both traditional Lebanese and fruits patterns were significantly associated with increased number of meals/day, breakfast consumption and non-smoking. In addition, the Western and Lebanese fast food patterns, along with the Dairy pattern, were also positively associated with increased frequency of alcohol consumption. None of these patterns showed a significant association with depressive symptoms after controlling for confounders. Conclusion: severity of depression was found to be associated with an unhealthy lifestyle habits/ behaviors, stressful life events and but not with the different identified dietary patterns.