Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Are Associated with Children’s Psychological Health

A Cross-Sectional Study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15501019
AutoresMargaret Thomas (0000-0001-7731-6642, The University of Sydney, autor de correspondencia), Margaret M Thomas (The University of Sydney), Jessica Gugusheff (0000-0003-2327-8403, The University of Sydney), Heather J Baldwin (0000-0001-9991-5419, The University of Sydney), Joanne Gale (The University of Sydney), Sinéad Boylan (0000-0002-3491-5845, The University of Sydney), Seema Mihrshahi (0000-0001-6567-9884, Macquarie University)
Año2020
Volumen17
Número20
Páginas7509-7509
Fecha de publicación2020-10-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17207509
PMID33076407
OpenAlexW3092883596
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas36

Protecting children's mental health is important and studies have shown that diet and exercise can have a positive impact. There are limited data available, however, from representative populations of children on the relationship between regular healthy lifestyle behaviours and psychological health. Data were obtained from the New South Wales Child Population Health Survey, 2013-2014. Parents were asked about diet, physical activity and screen time behaviours and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for one child aged 5-15. Higher SDQ scores indicate poorer psychological health and risk for mental health problems. Multivariable linear and logistic regression examined the relationships among dietary consumption, physical activity, screen time and SDQ scores, adjusting for potential confounding. Meeting screen time recommendations was most strongly associated with a lower SDQ total difficulties score (5-10 years: -1.56 (-2.68, -0.44); 11-15 years: -2.12 (-3.11, -1.12)). Children and adolescents who met screen time recommendations were also significantly less likely to have any score in the at-risk range. Children and adolescents meeting vegetable intake guidelines had significantly lower total difficulties scores (5-10 years: -1.54 (-3.03, -0.05); 11-15 years: -1.19 (-3.60, -0.39)), as did adolescents meeting discretionary food guidelines (-1.16 (-2.14, -0.18)) and children consuming the recommended fruit intake (-1.26 (-2.42, -0.10)). Our findings indicate that more effective interventions to increase the proportion of young Australians who meet the guidelines for diet and screen time would contribute to protecting their mental health

Cross-sectional study · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Clinical Psychology · Early Childhood Education and Development · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Gerontology