A good-quality breakfast is associated with better mental health in adolescence.
OBJECTIVE
Breakfast consumption has been associated with better mental health in adulthood, but the relationship between breakfast and mental health in adolescence is less well known. The aims of the present study were to evaluate breakfast quality in a cohort of adolescents and to investigate associations with mental health.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study. Breakfast quality was assessed by intake of core food groups at breakfast, as determined from 3 d food diaries. Mental health was assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), with higher scores representing poorer behaviour.


METHODS
The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, Perth, Western Australia.


METHODS
Eight hundred and thirty-six males and females aged between 13 and 15 years.


RESULTS
Mean mental health score as assessed by the CBCL was 45.24 (sd 11.29). A high-quality breakfast consisting of at least three food groups was consumed by 11 % of adolescents, while 7 % of adolescents did not consume any items from core food groups on average over the 3 d period. The two most common core food groups consumed at breakfast in this population were dairy products followed by breads and cereals. For every additional food group eaten at breakfast, the associated total mental health score decreased by 1.66 (95 % CI -2.74, -0.59) after adjustment for potential confounding factors, representing an improvement in mental health score.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the concept that breakfast quality is an important component in the complex interaction between lifestyle factors and mental health in early adolescence.
O'Sullivan
Therese A
TA
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, Western Australia 6872, Australia.
Robinson
Monique
M
Kendall
Garth E
GE
Miller
Margaret
M
Jacoby
Peter
P
Silburn
Sven R
SR
Oddy
Wendy H
WH
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health