Abstract
This study explores the role of health behaviors on depressive symptoms across young adult females and differences in the relationship across race/ethnicity. The data come from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child and Young Adult. Seven hundred and seven non-Hispanic White females, 592 African American females, and 349 Hispanic females were selected. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted. African American and Hispanic females were more likely to eat fast food than non-Hispanic Whites. African Americans reported that they ate fruit less frequently in comparison with non-Hispanic Whites. Fruit intake was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Hispanics moderated the association between fruit intake and depressive symptoms. Females should be encouraged to eat more fruit during young adulthood in order to diminish the likelihood of depressive symptoms. In addition, strategies for promoting healthy behaviors should consider the varied effects of race/ethnicity on depressive symptoms among young female adults.
Highlights
Affecting more than 300 million people worldwide, mental health problems, especially depressive symptoms, are one of the leading causes of disability
Given that females are likely to be at greater risk for mental health problems compared to men, and that health behaviors influence mental health, this study focused on young female adults over 21 years of age and the roles of two different dimensions of health behaviors on mental health
Race/ethnicity moderated the relationship between food intake and mental health across young female adults: the association between fruit-intake and depressive symptoms was stronger for non-Hispanic White females than for Hispanic females; depression had less influence on fruit intake in Hispanic females, while depression among non-Hispanic
Summary
Affecting more than 300 million people worldwide, mental health problems, especially depressive symptoms, are one of the leading causes of disability. In the U.S, approximately 17 million adults, or almost 7% of the adult population, experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2017 [1] These episodes are more common during young adulthood [2] and are more prevalent in women [3,4]. Responding to the higher risk of mental health problems among young female adults, and its potential negative consequences, this study focuses on health behaviors that could affect their mental health, such as food intake and preventive healthcare visits, which might interact with each other. Research has indicated that positive health behaviors, including a greater intake of healthy food (e.g., fruits), visits for preventive healthcare, and help to improve mental health outcomes, little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in the relationships [5,6,7]. This study fills that gap by examining how health behaviors affect mental health among young female adults, and how these relationships differ by race/ethnicity
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