Parental involvement could mitigate the effects of physical activity and dietary habits on mental distress in Ghanaian youth

Abstract

IntroductionParental involvement in physical activity and dietary habits have been found to play a substantial role in the mental health of young people. However, there is little evidence about the associations between parental involvement, health behaviours and mental health among Ghanaian youth. This study sought to examine the role of parental involvement in the association between physical activity, dietary habits and mental health among Ghanaian youth.MethodsData were obtained from the 2012 Ghana Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). The study population consisted of 1,984 school going youth in high schools with a median age of 15 years old, (53.7%) males. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression statistical models using complex samples method were performed.ResultsThe prevalence of mental distress was 18.1%, 16.6% and 23% for loneliness, feeling worried and suicidal ideation respectively. Younger students were more likely to feel lonely, worried and have suicidal ideation than older students. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds were significantly more likely to report loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, some physical activity and eating habits were associated with experiencing loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation but after introducing parental involvement, there was a decrease in the likelihood of some health behaviour factors in both physical activity and dietary habits to be associated with loneliness, worry and suicidal ideation.ConclusionPhysical inactivity and poor dietary habits could have a negative effect on mental distress, however, parental involvement could mitigate the impact of these lifestyle habits on mental distress and should therefore be taken into consideration in efforts aimed at encouraging positive lifestyle habits for good mental health among Ghanaian youth.

Fruit and vegetables intake in adolescents and mental health: a systematic review

“…Included studies were conducted mainly in various Asian countries [7,13,14,21,23,25], European countries [5,8,11,15,29], Australia [9,10,17,18], but also Ghana [6] and combined population of the Botswana, Kenya, Seychelles, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia [1]. The assessed participants were recruited mainly in a school-based manner [5,6,7,8,9,15,21,23,25,29], while for majority of studies the samples were population-based, but also in case of one study, there was a specific group of socially deprived young people included [11].…”

“…Within included studies, fruit and vegetable dietary intake was assessed mainly using a simple question about the frequency of consumption, or about the number of portions in a specified period of time [1,6,7,9,10,11,15,21,23], including the validated questions [8], or questionnaires [13,14,17,8,25]. However, for some studies, based on the obtained data, dietary patterns [13,17,18,25], or diet quality indexes were specified [9,10,11].…”

“…For the assessment of mental health, diverse variables were taken into account, both positive or negative, and neutral, such as health-related quality of life [5], or mental health status [18]. Among positive variables characterizing mental health, there were: happiness [5,7,21] and self-esteem [15], while among negative variables characterizing mental health, there were: loneliness [1,6], general difficulties [8], feeling worried [6], anxiety [1,25], stress and distress [7,11,21], depressive symptoms [7,9,11,23,29], depression [1,10,13,14,17,25], suicidal ideation [1,6], suicidal plan [1], suicide attempts [1].…”

“…In all included studies a positive influence of fruit and vegetables intake [6,8,15,21], or dietary patterns associated with higher intake of those products [5,7,9,10,11,13,25], on mental health were confirmed, but for some of them the results were not consistent for all factors associated with mental health, or were not consistent in all analysis [1,29]. At the same time, based on analyzed studies, it may be supposed, that the association is not direct, but the dietary patterns influence body mass and body mass influences mental health [17].…”

“…It was stated, that consumption of less than 1 serving of fruit or vegetables per day was associated with a higher level of general difficulties [8]. At the same time, consumption at least 3 servings of vegetables per day during the previous 30 days was associated with lower experience of suicidal ideation [6].…”