Stress and the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods During COVID-19's Social Distancing: Are Mental Disorders Mediators in This Association? ELSA-Brasil Results

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2024 Jul 13

PMID 38999844

Authors

Raphaela Kistenmacker Pires

Rosane Harter Griep

Patricia de Oliveira da Silva Scaranni

Arlinda B Moreno

Maria Del Carmen B Molina

Vivian C Luft

Maria de Jesus Mendes da Fonseca

Leticia de Oliveira Cardoso

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated various determinants of mental disorders. Several behavioral changes were observed given this increase, including harmful health consequences, such as excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). To assess this relationship, we investigated the meditational role of symptoms of mental disorders (anxiety and depression) in the association between stress resulting from social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consumption of UPFs in 3884 Brazilian public employees in a supplementary study of the ELSA-Brasil study. Structural equation models (SEMs) were estimated to assess the direct and indirect effects mediated by symptoms of mental disorders. The results suggested a significant and positive mediational effect of the symptoms of mental disorders on the association between the stress resulting from social distancing and the consumption of UPFs. These findings contribute to informing the need for policies and early interventions in potentially stressful situations, with a focus on the promotion of mental health, and may thus help prevent or reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods.

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