Bi-directional associations between healthy lifestyles and mood disorders in young adults: The Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study

This longitudinally study analyses bi-directional associations between healthy lifestyles and mood disorders. Young adults (aged 26-31) were assessed at baseline and at the 5 year mark, for diagnosis of depression or dysthymia (persistent depression) and questioned on their lifestyle – (i.e., body mass index (BMI), smoker status, alcohol intake, recreational physical activity and healthy diet). The covariates included age, sex, socio-economic position, parental and marital status, social support, major life events, cardiovascular disease history, and self-rated physical and mental health. Independently of these factors, the risk of experiencing first episodes of mood disorders dropped 22% in those with higher lifestyle scores at baseline. An existing mood disorder at baseline was associated with lower incidence of improvement and greater chance of worsening in lifestyle choices. Healthy lifestyles may be mainly talked about in the promotion of preventing cardiovascular disease but this study implies they are closely related to mood disorders and mental health. [NPID: depression, anxiety, mood, dysthymia, smoking, alcohol, cardiovascular disease]

Year: 2016

Reference: Gall, S. L., Sanderson, K., Smith, K. J., Patton, G., Dwyer, T., & Venn, A. (2016). Bi-directional associations between healthy lifestyles and mood disorders in young adults: The Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study. Psychological medicine, 46(12), 2535–2548. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716000738