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Self-esteem differentiates the dietary behaviours and adipose tissue distribution in women with menstrual bleeding disorders - pilot study
Menstrual bleeding disorders (MBDs) are multifaceted issues affecting women’s health. Understanding their causes and impacts is vital for management and treatment. MBDs can affect women’s self-esteem (SE), creating a cycle of physical and emotional challenges. Women may resort to unhealthy behaviours; therefore, we raised the question of whether MBD women’s self-esteem differs in dietary behaviours, consequently leading to obesity. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between SE, dietary behaviours and body fat (BF) distribution in 63 19–35 y MBD women. It was conducted on two BMI and age-matched groups that differ by android fat content. Rosenberg’s SE questionnaire and Food Frequency Questionnaire were used. BF distribution was measured by dual-energy-X-ray-absorptiometry (DXA), and the android-to-gynoid fat ratio was calculated. We revealed the following determinants of higher android-to-gynoid fat distribution: medium or high self-esteem (OR: 3.4, 95%CI: 1.0; 10.8), daily milk products frequency intake (OR: 3.3, 95%CI: 1.1; 10.3). The level of self-esteem could affect dietary behaviours. Women with higher android fat distribution tend to consume dairy products more frequently but with less meat. Women with lower android fat distribution had lower SE. The issues raised in this project affect a complex area that requires further research in a larger group of participants.
Assessment of Sugar-Related Dietary Patterns to Personality Traits, Cognitive-Behavioural and Emotional Functioning in Women
This study investigated interactions between sugar-related dietary patterns (DP), personality traits, cognitive-behavioural, and emotional functioning. The study involved females aged 18-54. Data were collected between the Winter and Spring of 2020/21. The survey was conducted using anonymized questionnaires. The Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) was used to examine personality traits based on the Big Five Personality Trait Model. Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to measure eating behaviours: cogni-tive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). The KomPAN question-naire collected the frequency of intake. Dietary patterns (DPs) were derived by principal component analysis (PCA). A logistic regression (OR) was applied to verify the association between the DPs, personality traits, cognitive-behavioural and emotional functioning. Three DPs were identified: sweet-western (SWDP), pro-healthy (PHDP) and dairy (DDP). Women with high conscientiousness were less likely, by 33%, to adhere to the upper tercile of SWDP and 80% more likely to the upper tercile of PHDP. Elevated CR intensity increased by almost 2-fold (OR: 1.93; p
The Association Between MIND Diet Adherence, Nutritional Status, and Psychosomatic Health in Adults Aged 60+: A Pilot Study
Background/Objectives: Ageing is associated with reduced adaptive capacity, which may influence responses to chronic stress and contribute to adverse lifestyle changes. This study examined the relationships among diet quality, nutritional status, and psychosomatic health in adults aged 60+, while considering the role of psychological stress. Methods: A total of 372 participants were assessed using a validated FFQ to evaluate diet quality, the MNA to determine nutritional status, and anthropometric measurements. Psychological functioning was measured using the PSS-10, the 4DSQ, and the geriatric GDS scale. Results: No association was identified between adherence to the MIND diet and depressive or anxiety symptoms. However, depressive symptoms were positively associated with the consumption of unhealthy foods. Gender differences also emerged: women reported higher levels of perceived stress (PSS10 F: 13.5 M: 10.5; p < 0.001), anxiety (F: 0.97; M: 0.39; p < 0.01), and somatisation (F: 6.18; M: 4.22; p < 0.001), suggesting greater vulnerability to everyday stressors. Participants at risk of malnutrition displayed significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of stress (8.33), depression (0.73), and anxiety (1.76) compared with well-nourished individuals (5.03; 0.33; 0.77, respectively). Conclusions: These findings underscore the significant relationship between nutritional status and mental functioning in older adults. They emphasise the need to integrate nutritional assessment with somatic and psychological evaluation to better support the health and well-being of seniors and to improve understanding of the interactions between diet, stress, and psychosomatic functioning in the ageing process.
Assessment of sugar-related dietary patterns to personality traits and cognitive–behavioural and emotional functioning in working-age women
This cross-sectional study investigated interactions among sugar-related dietary patterns (DPs), personality traits, and cognitive–behavioural and emotional functioning. The study involved working-age women aged 18–54. Data were collected between Winter and Spring of 2020/21. The survey was conducted using anonymised questionnaires. The ten-item personality inventory (TIPI-PL) was used to examine personality traits based on the Big Five personality trait model. A three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ-13) was used to measure the following eating behaviours: cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). The KomPAN questionnaire collected the frequency of the intake. Dietary patterns (DPs) were derived by principal component analysis (PCA). A logistic regression (OR) was applied to verify the associations among the DPs, personality traits, and cognitive–behavioural and emotional functioning. Three DPs were identified: sweet-Western (SWDP), pro-healthy (PHDP), and dairy (DDP). Women with high conscientiousness were less likely, by 33%, to adhere to the upper tercile of the SWDP and 80% more likely to the upper tercile of the PHDP. Elevated CR intensity increased by almost twofold (OR: 1.93; p < 0.001) the likelihood of high adherence to the SWDP. The high intensity in the EE decreased by 37% (OR: 0.63; p < 0.01) the likelihood of increased adherence to the SWDP. Personality traits and eating behaviours significantly correlated with the extracted SWDP.
Changes in diet quality and its association with students’ mental state during two COVID-19 lockdowns in Croatia
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has left substantial consequences on the mental health of the student population, primarily through an increase in the symptoms of acute stress and anxiety. Aim: This study evaluated diet quality and its association with mental state among Croatian students during the spring and winter COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Methods: Data were collected using an anonymous online self-reported questionnaire taken on two occasions. During the spring lockdown (from May 18 to June 7, 2020) and the winter lockdown (from December 14–22, 2020), 751 and 1188 students completed the questionnaire, respectively. Diet quality was determined using the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI) and non-healthy diet index (nHDI). Results: Although to the greatest extent associated with increased white meat, fish, and legumes intake, an increase in pHDI was also linked to increased consumption of water and sweets and decreased intake of processed meat products and nuts. Increased nHDI was mainly due to increased intake of processed meat products, alcohol, and sweets. Moreover, diet quality was higher during the lockdowns than in the periods before. However, diet quality increased to a lesser extent during the winter lockdown and was associated with a poorer mental state, shown as type D (Distressed) personality. Type D personality positively correlated with nHDI and sweets intake but negatively with pHDI, fruit, and vegetable consumption. Conclusion: These results indicate the need to alleviate further students’ diet quality and mental state impairment. Also, further investigation of the association between diet quality and mental state should be provided.
Supporting elderly patients in strengthening their personal and spiritual health resources
Care for the sick, including spiritual support is sometimes called holistic medicine. The term bio-psycho-social-spiritual model is sometimes used to describe this type of therapeutic approach patient-oriented medicine. This report indicates the importance of taking into account the spiritual aspect of life due to its beneficial impact on the coping resources activated and the patient’s well-being. Existential and spiritual issues are on the verge of new clinical and research interest in medicine, especially in gerontology, oncology, and palliative care. Clinicians focus not only on symptom control but also on spiritual and existential issues such as spirituality, hope, and meaning. This paper reviews the topic of spirituality in the context of illness and end-of-life care trying to define spirituality within the context of health resources of the subject. Spirituality is perceived in two of its main components: faith/religious beliefs and spiritual well-being. Especially this second construct is reviewed and described as a health resource.