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The interplay of dietary quality and extreme pessimism in predicting depression risk
Depression is a critical global health concern, and this study investigates the combined effects of dietary quality, as measured by the Balanced Healthy Eating Index (BHEI), and extreme pessimism on the risk of depression among adults. Utilizing data from 17,575 participants aged 18–65 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2018, the research classified BHEI scores above 62 as meeting healthy dietary standards. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationships between substandard BHEI, extreme pessimism (characterized by recurrent thoughts of being better off dead), and self-reported depression, adjusting for variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, total energy intake, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Findings indicated that participants with BHEI scores below the threshold exhibited increased odds of depression, which were further exacerbated by extreme pessimism. Notably, an interaction effect revealed that individuals exhibiting both poor dietary quality and extreme pessimistic thoughts faced significantly higher odds of depression, highlighting a multiplicative relationship between these factors. This study underscores the substantial association between low-quality diets and extreme pessimism with depression risk, particularly when these factors co-occur. The authors recommend future longitudinal studies to elucidate causal pathways and explore whether dietary improvements or interventions targeting extreme pessimism could effectively reduce depression prevalence. [NPID: personality, pessimism, depression, dietary intake].
Year: 2025
