Navigation
Irregular meal frequency and depressive symptoms: moderating roles of dietary diversity and breakfast skipping
The relationship between irregular meal consumption and mental health has garnered attention, particularly regarding its implications for depressive disorders. In a significant investigation using data from the 2014–2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 21,568 adults, researchers sought to better understand these connections.
Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the PHQ-9, coupled with advanced statistical techniques, including multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses. These methods accounted for various sociodemographic, lifestyle, and nutritional factors. Moreover, moderation and subgroup analyses provided insights into dietary patterns, with a particular focus on breakfast consumption and overall dietary diversity.
The findings indicate a strong correlation between irregular main-meal consumption and an increased likelihood of depressive symptoms, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 for individuals with the highest frequency of irregular meals compared with those with the lowest (95% CI 1.42–1.69, p < 0.001). Notably, the most pronounced effects were observed in participants with the least dietary variety, suggesting that a diverse diet may mitigate these negative outcomes. Additionally, those who frequently skipped breakfast showed an elevated vulnerability to depressive symptoms.
Interestingly, subgroup analyses revealed that the strongest associations were observed among men, smokers, and individuals who eat late at night; however, these findings must be interpreted with caution. Limitations inherent to this cross-sectional study, including reliance on self-reported dietary data and potential confounders such as stress, medication, and sleep, may limit the ability to establish a causal relationship.
This research underscores the importance of meal-frequency regularity in nutritional psychology and emphasizes the need for further investigation into dietary diversity and meal timing as potential targets for mental health prevention strategies. [NPID: Meal-frequency, dietary diversity, depressive disorders, breakfast skipping]
Year: 2026
