The University of Notre Dame Australia ResearchOnline@ND Theses 2011 Extra Food Intake and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Is there a relationship? Elizabeth Bradshaw University of Notre Dame Australia Follow this and additional works at: https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/theses Part of the Life Sciences Commons, and the Medicine and Health Sciences Commons COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Copyright Regulations 1969 WARNING The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further copying or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Do not remove this notice. Publication Details Bradshaw, E. (2011). Extra Food Intake and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Is there a relationship? (Master of Health Sciences (Thesis)). University of Notre Dame Australia. https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/theses/55 This dissertation/thesis is brought to you by ResearchOnline@ND. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@ND. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS: IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP? Submitted by Elisabeth Bradshaw This thesis is submitted for the degree of Masters in Health Science of the University of Notre Dame Australia, School of Health Sciences. 2011 EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS Declaration of Authorship This thesis is the candidate’s own work and contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other institution. To the best of the candidates knowledge, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the thesis. _________________________ _________________________ Candidate’s Name Date i EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS Abstract This pilot study explored the potential role of food on young people’s mental health. Specifically, the aim was to determine if a relationship exists between extra food intake and depressive symptoms in adolescents’ age 12-17 years. It has been documented that mental health problems in young people result from a complex interaction of risk and protective factors. Eating behaviours and food intake has been investigated in early adolescence (age 10-14), however the specific contribution of extra food on depressive symptoms in mid adolescence has not been determined. Extra food intake and depressive symptoms were collected from girls and boys in year 8 to 12 (age 12-17) at one middle socio-economic secondary school located in the Perth metropolitan area. Participants completed a daily food recall checklist each day in class from Monday to Thursday to collect extra food intake during the weekday and weekend. Extra food included take away, drinks, party food and snacks. For depressive symptoms, participants completed the Centre of Epidemiological- Depression Scale. Participants were asked to indicate how often in the previous week they had experienced the symptoms listed. Non parametric tests found girls to have higher scores for depressive symptoms than boys. Girls had significantly higher depressive symptoms than boys in year 8 and 9, and the pattern of depressive symptoms for boys revealed a significant increase from years 9 to 10. Being female and in year 10 emerged as important risk factors to depressive symptoms. There were no significant gender or year differences for total extra food intake, however girls consumed significantly more take away, party food and snack food in year 8 and 9, but boys ii EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS consumed significantly more take away than girls in year 11 and 12. Significantly more servings of take away and drinks were consumed on the weekend compared to the weekday. A linear mixed model analysis reported that the consumption of drinks was related to depressive symptoms. Specifically, cordial intake appeared as a significant contributor to higher level of depressive symptoms in girls and year 10 students. The interactions between other types of extra food and specific years also became significant to depressive symptoms. The consumption of take away and drinks on the weekend emerged as significant contributors to depressive symptoms. This study identifies the potential role of food intake on mental health problems. Previous research has focused on the overall diet in adolescents age 10-14 and has identified that a diet high in processed food is linked with self reported depressive symptoms. The results of this study have revealed important interactions between different types of food and specific years beyond age 14. In particular the consumption of drinks in year 10 is associated with a higher level and severity of depressive symptoms. Another important finding was the pattern of depressive symptoms between boys and girls, with girls having significantly higher depressive symptoms in years 8 and 9, and boys showing a significant increase from years 9 to 10. These results have important implications for future research and practice, particularly in the content and timing of messages about healthy eating and in addressing the risk and protective factors interacting during this time. iii EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the following people for their contribution to this research project. Firstly, to my supervisor Fiona Farringdon. Thank you for encouraging me to embark on this project. It has been one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences I have ever had. Your passion for social research is truly admirable, and I am so appreciative of your advice and experience from your work with schools and young people. Thank you for your patience, enthusiasm and moral support throughout the entire research project and development of this thesis. Words cannot express how truly grateful I am. To Max Bulsara, for helping me understand statistics. Thank you for your guidance throughout my research. Your assistance in the entry, treatment and analysis of my data is greatly appreciated. To the staff within the School of Health Sciences, thank you for the constant laughs and words of encouragement throughout this research. Sincere thanks to the students, parents, school nurse and teachers at the school involved in this study, for their time, cooperation and assistance. Without these people, this study could not have happened. Finally, to my family and friends, for their love and support. Thank you for your constant source of strength and belief in me. I could not have done this without you. iv EXTRA FOOD INTAKE AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ADOLESCENTS Table of Contents Abstract.........................................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................................iv List of Figures..............................................................................................................................................xi List of Tables ..............................................................................................................................................xii Chapter One: Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 Background and Statement of Problem ....................................................................................................1 Purpose of this Pilot Study........................................................................................................................6 Significance...............................................................................................................................................6 Conceptual Framework.............................................................................................................................7 Major Research Question:.......................................................................................................................10 Major hypotheses:...................................................................................................................................10 Null hypothesis...............................................................................................................................10 Alternative hypotheses ...................................................................................................................11 Directional hypotheses...................................................................................................................11 Variables........................................................................................................................................11 Assumptions............................................................................................................................................12 Delimitations...........................................................................................................................................12 Limitations..............................................................................................................................................13 Definition of Terms.................................................................................................................................16