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The Association Between ‘Vegetarian for Life’ Diet Quality, Social Connection and Depressive Symptoms: A Within Groups Study
Preprint (Author's original)CC BY V4.0, Open
Preprint
The Association Between ‘Vegetarian for Life’ Diet Quality, Social Connection and Depressive Symptoms: A Within Groups Study
07/2023
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Abstract
Dietary patterns rich in plant foods are associated with a lower risk of depression. Yet vegetarians face a higher susceptibility to depressive symptoms Existing literature may overlook the role of eating behaviors in a socially oriented context. This study surveying 319 lifelong vegans (51%) or vegetarians (49%) explored diet quality, social connectedness and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression revealed an inverse association between diet quality and depressive symptoms (β = -.23; 95%CI: -.30, -.10), no longer significant after controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Within-group analyses showed differences between low and high diet quality and depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis suggested social connectedness mediated the diet quality-depressive symptoms relationship (c’ = -.10, p < .001). Results imply that lifetime adherence to a plant-based diet may be positively associated with social interactions, fostering stronger connections with others that, in turn, play a role in buffering the experience of depressive symptoms.
Details
- Title
- The Association Between ‘Vegetarian for Life’ Diet Quality, Social Connection and Depressive Symptoms: A Within Groups Study
- Creators
- Megan Lee (Corresponding Author) - Bond UniversityGurmeet Kaur Matharu - Southern Cross UniversityKate Alice Baltrotsky - Southern Cross UniversityTalitha Best - Central Queensland University
- Identifiers
- 991013165213802368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Health
- Resource Type
- Preprint