[Epidemiological study of preferable life style for psychological health promotion].
OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine relationships of lifestyle factors, including diet, physical activity, sleep, alcohol consumption and smoking, with perceived stress and depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Between 2001 and 2002, 7,947 men and women (mean 52.4 years) took part in examinations at the Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion. Lifestyle factors were determined by structured interview or by self-administered questionnaire. Associations of life style factors with perceived stress and depressive symptoms were tested by stepwise logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
Higher proportions of persons with depressive symptoms tended to be associated with higher proportions of persons with perceived stress. Among both men and women, low physical activity, lack of regular physical exercise, short sleeping time, to skip breakfast frequently, and having dinner within a couple of hours before going to bed were associated with both perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Men reporting between-meal or midnight snacks and having eating until they were full had higher odds ratios for perceived stress, while men conducting regular physical exercise and consuming 3 or more dishes of vegetables per day had lower odds ratios for depressive symptoms. For women, high odds ratios for depressive symptoms and perceived stress were observed among those who tended to have salty foods (or frequent use of soy sauce) and a lower odds ratio for perceived stress was noted among persons who had soy products every day.


CONCLUSIONS
Lifestyle facets such as skipping breakfast, low physical activity, and short sleeping time, appear to be associated with psychological health status of Japanese men and women.
Ohira
Tetsuya
T
Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion.
Nakamura
Chikako
C
Imano
Hironori
H
Okada
Takeo
T
Kitamura
Akihiko
A
Kiyama
Masahiko
M
Nakagawa
Yuko
Y
Sato
Shinichi
S
Nakamura
Masakazu
M
Naito
Yoshihiko
Y
Kurokawa
Michinori
M
Nakashita
Yumiko
Y
Yamamoto
Masayo
M
Kamei
Kazuyo
K
Horii
Yuko
Y
Shimamoto
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*