The relationship between circadian rhythm and mediterranean diet compliance levels in Faculty of Sports Sciences students

Aim: This study aimed to examine the relationship between Circadian Rhythm and Mediterranean Diet Compliance Levels in Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Sports Sciences Students. Materials and Methods: The data of the research was delivered to the participants face to face and participation was voluntary. A total of 251 people were reached and there were no missing or incorrect survey forms. 251 survey forms were evaluated for analysis. The research group consists of 251 undergraduate students between the ages of 18-22 studying at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Sports Sciences. In addition to the personal information form in obtaining study data, the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Compliance Scale developed by Martinez-Gonzalez et al. (2012) and adapted to Turkish by Pehlivanoğlu et al. (2020), Ağargün et al. (2007) developed by Horne and Ostberg (2005) was used. The 19-item Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) Scale, adapted to Turkish by , was used. The data were evaluated in the SPSS 25.0 package program with a 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 significance level. Since it was understood that the data did not show normal distribution and parametric test assumptions were not met, the Mann Whitney U test was applied for binary variables and the Kruskal Wallis H test was applied for more than two variables. Additionally, Spearman correlation coefficient (rho) was used to determine the relationship between scales. Results: As a result of the research, the MEQ scales of the participants were evaluated and 4.8% were found to be evening chronotype, 90.0% were intermediate chronotype,and 5.2% were morning chronotype. The Mediterranean Diet compliance scores of the participants were evaluated and 27.9% were found to be low, 59.8% were moderate, and 12.4% were high compliance. As a result of the test applied between the participants' MEQ scale and the time to fall asleep variable, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the MEQ scale (p <0.05). Individuals who fell asleep in 31 minutes or more were found to have the highest MEQ scores, and these participants were identified as morning person chronotype. As a result of the test applied between the participants' MEQ scale and the sleep duration variable, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the MEQ scale (p <0.05). MEQ scores of individuals who stayed asleep for 6 hours or more were found to have the highest MEQ scores, and these individuals were identified as morning person chronotype. It was determined that there was no significant relationship between the MEQ scale scores of the participants and the Mediterranean diet compliance scale scores (rho = .020; p> 0.05). Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that there was no relationship between the participants' Mediterranean Diet compliance scores and MEQ scale scores.