Association of the mediterranean diet with mental well-being: a cross-sectional study among adults living in Lebanon
Abstract Background The Mediterranean diet (MD) is regarded as one of the healthiest dietary patterns globally. It has been linked with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases and mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. However, despite these f...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23882-y |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background The Mediterranean diet (MD) is regarded as one of the healthiest dietary patterns globally. It has been linked with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases and mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress. However, despite these findings, research on the relationship between the MD and overall mental well-being remains limited. To our knowledge, no nationwide study has been conducted on adults aged 18 years or older living in Lebanon to explore this association. Objective This study aims to explore the relationship between adhering to MD and mental well-being among adults living in Lebanon and determine predictors of mental well-being. Methods We conducted a survey-based cross-sectional study of 421 healthy participants in Lebanon which was mainly designed to measure mental well-being through the Warwick-Edinburg Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) and the adherence to MD through the Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDS) along with socio-demographics and lifestyle and health-related factors. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Independent two-sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, Welch’s ANOVA and Spearman’s correlation tests were applied in the bivariate analysis to examine the association between each variable and the WEMWEBS score. Subsequently, a hierarchical linear regression analysis was implemented for the multivariate analysis. Results After adjusting for confounding variables, a positive correlation was reported between MD adherence and mental well-being (B = 0.89, SE = 0.19, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.51, 1.28]). No income, sleeping troubles, and alcohol consumption were associated with poorer mental well-being. A sub-analysis revealed that nuts and fish/seafood had the greatest positive impact on the variability of the WEMWBS score. Conclusion This study highlighted the beneficial effect of adhering to MD on mental well-being among the residents in Lebanon. For future perspectives, a more representative sample is required to ensure the validity of the findings. |
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| ISSN: | 1471-2458 |