A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Mediating Effect of Stress on Diet in Culturally Diverse Women of Childbearing Age

Authors: Khaled, K., Tsofliou, F. and Hundley, V.A.

Journal: Nutrients

Volume: 16

Issue: 19

eISSN: 2072-6643

DOI: 10.3390/nu16193354

Abstract:

Background: Stress has been shown to be associated with poor nutrition among young women. However, studies around the topic have major limitations in their methodologies and the role of confounding factors within this association remains unclear in the literature. Objective: To investigate the associations between stress and dietary quality/patterns in a culturally diverse population of childbearing-aged women. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from two studies conducted in UK and Lebanon was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore the role of country context, socio-economic status, and physical variables. Participants were healthy women of childbearing age (n = 493). Variables measured were dietary intake, stress, physical activity, sociodemographic variables, and Body Mass Index. These were included in the SEM analysis to examine the mediating effect of stress. Results: The results showed that, among all variables, only country had a significant effect on dietary quality and patterns through the mediatory effect of stress. Participants from Lebanon were found to have higher stress levels compared to participants from the UK, and this contributed to a lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: This study shows that for women of childbearing age, having a good diet quality/pattern is dependent on stress levels and country context.

Source: Scopus

A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Mediating Effect of Stress on Diet in Culturally Diverse Women of Childbearing Age.

Authors: Khaled, K., Tsofliou, F. and Hundley, V.A.

Journal: Nutrients

Volume: 16

Issue: 19

eISSN: 2072-6643

DOI: 10.3390/nu16193354

Abstract:

Background: Stress has been shown to be associated with poor nutrition among young women. However, studies around the topic have major limitations in their methodologies and the role of confounding factors within this association remains unclear in the literature. Objective: To investigate the associations between stress and dietary quality/patterns in a culturally diverse population of childbearing-aged women. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from two studies conducted in UK and Lebanon was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore the role of country context, socio-economic status, and physical variables. Participants were healthy women of childbearing age (n = 493). Variables measured were dietary intake, stress, physical activity, sociodemographic variables, and Body Mass Index. These were included in the SEM analysis to examine the mediating effect of stress. Results: The results showed that, among all variables, only country had a significant effect on dietary quality and patterns through the mediatory effect of stress. Participants from Lebanon were found to have higher stress levels compared to participants from the UK, and this contributed to a lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: This study shows that for women of childbearing age, having a good diet quality/pattern is dependent on stress levels and country context.

Source: PubMed

A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Mediating Effect of Stress on Diet in Culturally Diverse Women of Childbearing Age

Authors: Khaled, K., Tsofliou, F. and Hundley, V.A.

Journal: NUTRIENTS

Volume: 16

Issue: 19

eISSN: 2072-6643

DOI: 10.3390/nu16193354

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Mediating Effect of Stress on Diet in Culturally Diverse Women of Childbearing Age.

Authors: Khaled, K., Tsofliou, F. and Hundley, V.A.

Journal: Nutrients

Volume: 16

Issue: 19

Pages: 3354

eISSN: 2072-6643

ISSN: 2072-6643

DOI: 10.3390/nu16193354

Abstract:

Background: Stress has been shown to be associated with poor nutrition among young women. However, studies around the topic have major limitations in their methodologies and the role of confounding factors within this association remains unclear in the literature. Objective: To investigate the associations between stress and dietary quality/patterns in a culturally diverse population of childbearing-aged women. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from two studies conducted in UK and Lebanon was performed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore the role of country context, socio-economic status, and physical variables. Participants were healthy women of childbearing age (n = 493). Variables measured were dietary intake, stress, physical activity, sociodemographic variables, and Body Mass Index. These were included in the SEM analysis to examine the mediating effect of stress. Results: The results showed that, among all variables, only country had a significant effect on dietary quality and patterns through the mediatory effect of stress. Participants from Lebanon were found to have higher stress levels compared to participants from the UK, and this contributed to a lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Conclusions: This study shows that for women of childbearing age, having a good diet quality/pattern is dependent on stress levels and country context.

Source: Europe PubMed Central