title: The association between self-reported diet quality and health-related quality of life in rural and urban Australian adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the relationship between diet quality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in rural and urban Australian adolescents, and gender differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  722 rural and 422 urban students from 19 secondary schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report dietary-related behaviours, demographic information, HRQoL (AQoL-6D) were collected. Healthy and unhealthy diet quality scores were calculated; multiple linear regression investigated associations between diet quality and HRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to urban students, rural students had higher HRQoL, higher healthy diet score, lower unhealthy diet score, consumed less soft drink and less frequently, less takeaway and a higher proportion consumed breakfast (P < 0.05). Overall, males had higher unhealthy diet score, poorer dietary behaviours but a higher HRQoL score compared to females (P < 0.05). In all students, final regression models indicated: a unit increase in healthy diet score was associated with an increase in HRQoL (unstandardised coefficient(B)±standard error(SE); B = 0.02 ± 0.01(SE); P < 0.02); and a unit increase in unhealthy diet scores was associated with a decrease in HRQoL (-0.01 ± 0.00; P < 0.05). In rural students alone, a unit increase in unhealthy diet score was associated with a decrease in HRQoL (B = -0.01 ± 0.00; P = 0.002), and in urban students a unit increase in healthy diet score was associated with an increase in HRQoL (B = 0.02 ± 0.00; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cross-sectional associations between diet quality and HRQoL were observed. Dietary modification may offer a target to improve HRQoL and general well-being; and consequently the prevention and treatment of adolescent health problems. Such interventions should consider gender and locality.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. kabolton@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kristy A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Psychiatry Research, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Black Dog Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacka
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allender
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Centre of Applied Oral Health Research, Dental Health Services Victoria, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: adolescence; eating habits; gender; geographic location; mental health