Associations between diet quality and depressed mood in adolescents: results from the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescence frequently coincides with the onset of psychiatric illness and depression is commonly observed in adolescents. Recent data suggest a role for diet quality in adult depression. Given the importance of adequate nutrition for brain development, it is of interest to examine whether diet quality is also related to depression in adolescents.


METHODS
The study examined 7114 adolescents, aged 10-14 years, who participated in the Australian Healthy Neighbourhoods Study. Healthy and unhealthy diet quality scores were derived from a dietary questionnaire. The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for adolescents measured depression. Adjustments were made for age, gender, socioeconomic status, parental education, parental work status, family conflict, poor family management, dieting behaviours, body mass index, physical activity, and smoking.


RESULTS
Compared to the lowest category of the healthy diet score, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for symptomatic depression across categories (C) was: C2 = 0.61 (0.45-0.84); C3 = 0.58 (0.43-0.79); C4 = 0.47 (0.35-0.64); and C5 = 0.55 (0.40-0.77). Compared to the lowest quintile, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for symptomatic depression across increasing quintiles of the unhealthy diet score were: Q2 = 1.03 (0.87-1.22); Q3 = 1.22 (1.03-1.44); Q4 = 1.29 (1.12-1.50); and Q5 = 1.79 (1.52-2.11).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate an association between diet quality and adolescent depression that exists over and above the influence of socioeconomic, family, and other potential confounding factors.
Jacka
Felice N
FN
The University of Melbourne, Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences: Barwon Health, Geelong, Vic. 3220, Australia. felice@barwonhealth.org.au
Kremer
Peter J
PJ
Leslie
Eva R
ER
Berk
Michael
M
Patton
George C
GC
Toumbourou
John W
JW
Williams
Joanne W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires