New study shows diet, exercise, and sleep are not meaningfully linked to mental health, but alcohol consumption is.
A recent study involving 222 predominantly white American English-speaking college women enrolled in academic institutions across the U.S. aimed to unveil the significance of certain lifestyle factors, including diet and sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and tobacco/nicotine on mental illness (MI) in within this population. The majority of participants were full-time undergraduate students, single and employed, with an average age of 22. They completed an online survey with two standardized questionnaires: the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Diet History Questionnaire II (DHQ II). They also provided information regarding their employment, school status, housing, and lifestyle behaviors.
Adolescents and young adults are experiencing mental illness (MI) at higher rates than ever before as the world endures the ongoing mental health crisis post-COVID, and the college years are a time of significant change for many young adults, both men and women. A good majority of students are away from home for the first time, and there tends to be a high prevalence of drinking and partying embedded into campus life just the same as libraries and lecture halls.
The United States has been hit especially hard when it comes to increasing rates of mental illness, especially among this group. The spring 2023 National College Heath Assessment conducted by the American College Health Association (ACHA), which included responses from 55,292 participants, showed troubling results: 21.2% of students reported experiencing severe psychological distress. This includes anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions that can impact academic performance. Studies have also consistently shown that women are more vulnerable to mental illness than men. A 2020 survey conducted by the Healthy Minds Network revealed approximately 39% of college women experience significant psychological distress.
Interestingly, while the new study found that while 50% of students reported MI, there was no significant link between this and sleep duration, diet quality, tobacco/nicotine use – even though only 5% of female participants reported having a high-quality diet. However, alcohol consumption was significantly related to MI with those who consumed alcohol more likely to experience severe depression and anxiety symptoms compared to those opting to abstain.
Alcohol has repeatedly been shown to have a negative impact on both physical and mental health, in general. It can rob the body of essential nutrients, lead to weight gain, and cause neurological consequences as well as heart-related health issues, among many other symptoms. It can also leave students in vulnerable positions. According to a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs in 2020, nearly 20% of college students who reported frequent binge drinking also reported significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, alcohol impacts women more quickly than men health-wise and the results tend to be more severe. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), women who drink excessively are at higher risk than men for developing several serious health conditions, including liver disease, heart disease, and brain damage. When it comes to compromised liver health, specifically, women are nearly twice as likely as men to suffer from alcohol-related liver disease.
More research is needed to elaborate upon the lifestyle factors included in the most recent and their individual impact on mental health. Future studies might also benefit from including other common lifestyle choices among college students. However, it seems clear, given the results of this survey and numerous long-held statistics, that alcohol consumption can be a major contributor to poor mental health. In order to improve symptoms of MI, college women should strongly consider reducing their intake or eliminating alcohol from their diet altogether.
Sources:
Alcohol use significantly associated with mental illness symptoms in college women
Spring 2023 Reference Group Executive Summary
The Relationship between Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Illness in Women in College
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