Breakfast Frequency and Sleep Quality in College Students: The Multiple Mediating Effects of Sleep Chronotypes and Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Sleep disorders, which are prominent problems among college students, may be associated with skipping breakfast. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of sleep chronotypes and depressive symptoms as mediators in the relationship between breakfast frequency and sleep quality. A cross-sectional survey enrolling random samples of 712 college students was conducted by the Questionnaire Star online platform. Statistical description and correlation analysis were performed by SPSS 25.0, and a chain mediation test was performed by model 6 in PROCESS 3.5. The result of the article demonstrated that breakfast frequency can affect sleep quality through two mediating pathways: ① sleep chronotypes, with a mediating effect of 32%; and ② depressive symptoms, with a mediating effect of 52.4%. However, the chain mediating effects of sleep chronotypes and depressive symptoms was not significant, and neither was the direct effect of breakfast frequency on sleep quality. Breakfast frequency can indirectly affect sleep quality by adjusting sleep chronotypes and depressive symptoms. Regular breakfast can increase morning and intermediate sleep chronotypes, reduce depressive symptoms, and thus improve sleep quality.

Comment on Xian et al. Breakfast Frequency and Sleep Quality in College Students: The Multiple Mediating Effects of Sleep Chronotypes and Depressive Symptoms. Nutrients 2023, 15, 2678

“…While these associations are well in line with other studies [7,8], no causal directions can be derived from these cross-sectional correlations. By implying causal effects of breakfast frequency on these variables, the article by Xian and colleagues [1] dovetails with a plethora of studies on eating breakfast that unwarrantedly claim causal effects of eating breakfast on physical and mental well-being based on cross-sectional relationships, as has been noted by others [9,10].…”

“…In conclusion, the study by Xian and colleagues [1] shows that eating breakfast more frequently is correlated with a morningness preference, less depressive symptoms, and better sleep quality (see correlation coefficients in Table 2 in [1]). While these associations are well in line with other studies [7,8], no causal directions can be derived from these cross-sectional correlations.…”

“…Xian and colleagues [1] recently reported on a cross-sectional study that examined relationships between the frequency of eating breakfast, morningness-eveningness preference, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. Specifically, they ran a serial mediation model with breakfast frequency as independent variable, morningness-eveningness preference and depressive symptoms as mediators, and sleep quality as dependent variable.…”

The relationship between appearance anxiety and depression among students in a medical university in China: a serial multiple mediation model

“…Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the correlations between the appearance anxiety, social support, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression. To further understand the relationship between the above variables, a serial multiple mediation model (model 6) was performed using the PROCESS macro 3.5 package provided by Hayes ( Xian et al, 2023 ). Gender and age were used as covariates, appearance anxiety as the independent variable (X), interpersonal sensitivity and social support as mediating variables (M1, M2), and depression as the dependent variable (Y).…”

Hubungan antara kebiasaan merokok, sarapan, dan uang saku dengan asupan energi mahasiswa

“…Kebiasaan melewatkan sarapan memiliki hubungan dengan kejadian obesitas sentral pada mahasiswa (Wijayanti et al, 2021). Selain itu sarapan memiliki efek tidak langsung terhadap kualitas tidur (Xian et al, 2023). Untuk menjalani aktivitas perkuliahan maka mahasiswa mendapatkan uang saku dari orang tuanya.…”