The association between mediterranean diet and emotional status among university students

This study carried among university students in order to assess compliance with the Mediterranean diet and it is relationship between mood included 277 students from Yeditepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics; income level; school performance; participation in social activities; willingly choosing the registered department were also asked as well as their anthropometric measurements. Mediterranean diet adaptation scale was used to determine Mediterranean diet adherence scores. Beck Depression Scale and Profile of Mood States were used to determine the mood states of individuals. As a result of our study, the majority of participants were found to be compatible with the Mediterranean diet (75.8%) and normal depression status (59.6%). A significant correlation was found between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and emotional states of tense, angry, energetic, fatigued (p <0.05). No significant relationship was found between the Mediterranean Diet scores and the Beck Depression scores. The relationship between Mediterranean diet and depression should be examined in more details and individuals' awareness of the relationship between mood and nutrition should be increased. Key words: Mediterranean diet, Profile of Mood States, Beck Depression Profile, University students.