Exploring the relationship between Mediterranean Diet adherence and subjective well-being among Greek and Cypriot adults
Researchers and policymakers worldwide increasingly focus on the connections between subjective well-being (SWB) and factors like dietary habits, employment status, and routine activities. This study by Deligiannidou et al. (2024) aimed to investigate these links in individuals from Greece and Cyprus using an online survey. Submitted questionnaires (Cyprus n=470, Greece n=466) were analyzed to investigate the links between Mediterranean Diet (MD) fidelity and various socioeconomic factors through subjective well-being score(SWB) and the 14-item MEDAS score (14-MEDAS). The key findings of this survey underscore the positive influence of adhering to the MD on certain aspects of well-being. Notably, statistically significant differences were observed in items such as life satisfaction, feeling that life is worthwhile, and feelings of happiness, worry, and depression when comparing individuals with low MD adherence (14-MEDAS 10). Additionally, other lifestyle habits like spending time with friends and family, being in nature, and engaging in regular physical activity were linked to aspects of SWB, such as life satisfaction, feeling that life is worthwhile, happiness, and energy levels. The authors argue that these findings emphasize the importance of adhering to the MD, as it correlates with greater life satisfaction and self-reported happiness in this population, suggesting its relevance in developing health policies concerning well-being. [NPID: Subjective well-being, Mediterranean diet adherence, Greece, Cyprus, lifestyle, life satisfaction]
Year: 2024
