Association of mental health status with perceived barriers to healthy diet among Bangladeshi adults

A quantile regression-based approach

Bibliographic Data

ID22080949
AuthorsA B M Nahid Hasan (0000-0001-8643-259X, North South University), Satyajit Kundu (0000-0001-9610-1479, Griffith University), Ishrat Jahan (0000-0001-9813-9956, The University of Queensland), Tapu Basak (Primeasia University), Mahamudul Hasan (0000-0002-2683-9803, World University of Bangladesh), Azaz Bin Sharif (0000-0002-9929-1236, North South University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1487107-1487107
Publication date2025-02-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1487107
PMID40046113
OpenAlexW4407757923
LanguageEN
References cited42

Introduction Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for both physical and mental well-being. This study investigated the association of mental health status with perceived barriers to maintaining healthy diets among Bangladeshi adults. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted between January to June 2023 in Bangladesh. A total of 400 adults aged between 18 and 60 years who reside in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Gazipur cities were recruited using a multistage sampling technique. A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions adapted from previous literature was used to assess barriers to healthy diets. Mental health status was measured using the validated DASS-21 scale. A quantile regression-based approach was used to ascertain the association between mental health status and barriers to healthy diets. Results The five most frequently reported barriers to a healthy diet were the use of junk food as a reward or treat (56.25%), difficulty in controlling eating habits when with friends (56%), the cost of healthy food (44.5%), difficulty in taking healthy food at work (46.5%), and difficult to stay motivated to eat healthy food (25%). The study found that gender, marital status, living arrangement, working hours, and family monthly income were significantly associated with perceived barriers to healthy diets. Mental health status was observed to be associated with barriers to healthy diet scores. Depression ( β =0.34, 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.51) and anxiety (β =0.14, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.28) were significantly associated with perceived barrier scores at the 50th quantile. Stress was also significantly associated with perceived barrier scores at the 10th ( β =0.18, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.27) and the 25th quantiles (β =0.12, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.21). Conclusion In light of the findings, it is imperative to prioritize the advocacy of policies that integrate mental health services and stress management strategies into public health initiatives

Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Mental health · Pathology · Psychiatry · Quantile regression · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Health and Wellbeing Research · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Psychology · Gerontology

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