The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review
<b>Background:</b> Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders affecting adolescents worldwide. Skipping breakfast is a prevalent dietary behaviour linked to inadequate nutrient intake, which may contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Tatiana Naumoska Kristina Zafirovski Fahad Hanna |
| author_facet | Tatiana Naumoska Kristina Zafirovski Fahad Hanna |
| author_sort | Tatiana Naumoska |
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| description | <b>Background:</b> Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders affecting adolescents worldwide. Skipping breakfast is a prevalent dietary behaviour linked to inadequate nutrient intake, which may contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health issues in this age group. Despite growing interest, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the association between breakfast omission and adolescent anxiety or depression remains limited. <b>Objectives:</b> This scoping review aimed to synthesise existing research on the association between skipping breakfast and the risk of anxiety and/or depression in adolescents. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework. A comprehensive search of PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost databases was performed, focusing on studies published in English between 2014 and 2024. Keywords included “skipping breakfast,” “risk,” “anxiety,” “depression,” and “adolescen*.” Studies were screened and selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. <b>Results</b>: Out of 1671 initially identified studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were cross-sectional (n = 9), with one prospective cohort study, one secondary data analysis, and one systematic review with meta-analysis. Most studies reported a significant association between breakfast skipping and increased risk of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Only one study reported no significant relationship between the two variables. <b>Conclusions</b>: This review underscores a consistent association between skipping breakfast and elevated risk of anxiety and depression among adolescents. While causality remains to be established, breakfast omission emerges as a modifiable lifestyle factor with potential public health implications. These findings highlight the need for prospective research, as well as the importance of community- and school-based health promotion strategies that advocate for regular and nutritious breakfast consumption as part of broader mental health support efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d63f22533e9346ee81f5f29f06ff1e01 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj-art-d63f22533e9346ee81f5f29f06ff1e012025-08-20T03:58:26ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-07-0112795310.3390/children12070953The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping ReviewTatiana Naumoska0Kristina Zafirovski1Fahad Hanna2Program of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaProgram of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaProgram of Public Health, Department of Health and Education, Torrens University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia<b>Background:</b> Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders affecting adolescents worldwide. Skipping breakfast is a prevalent dietary behaviour linked to inadequate nutrient intake, which may contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health issues in this age group. Despite growing interest, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the association between breakfast omission and adolescent anxiety or depression remains limited. <b>Objectives:</b> This scoping review aimed to synthesise existing research on the association between skipping breakfast and the risk of anxiety and/or depression in adolescents. <b>Methods:</b> A systematic scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework. A comprehensive search of PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost databases was performed, focusing on studies published in English between 2014 and 2024. Keywords included “skipping breakfast,” “risk,” “anxiety,” “depression,” and “adolescen*.” Studies were screened and selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. <b>Results</b>: Out of 1671 initially identified studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were cross-sectional (n = 9), with one prospective cohort study, one secondary data analysis, and one systematic review with meta-analysis. Most studies reported a significant association between breakfast skipping and increased risk of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Only one study reported no significant relationship between the two variables. <b>Conclusions</b>: This review underscores a consistent association between skipping breakfast and elevated risk of anxiety and depression among adolescents. While causality remains to be established, breakfast omission emerges as a modifiable lifestyle factor with potential public health implications. These findings highlight the need for prospective research, as well as the importance of community- and school-based health promotion strategies that advocate for regular and nutritious breakfast consumption as part of broader mental health support efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/7/953skipping breakfasteating behaviourmental healthanxietydepressionadolescents |
| spellingShingle | Tatiana Naumoska Kristina Zafirovski Fahad Hanna The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review Children skipping breakfast eating behaviour mental health anxiety depression adolescents |
| title | The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review |
| title_full | The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review |
| title_fullStr | The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review |
| title_short | The Association Between Skipping Breakfast and Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents—A Scoping Review |
| title_sort | association between skipping breakfast and anxiety and depression in adolescents a scoping review |
| topic | skipping breakfast eating behaviour mental health anxiety depression adolescents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/7/953 |
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