TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the Relationship between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Subjective Well-Being among Greek and Cypriot Adults
AU - Deligiannidou, Georgia Eirini
AU - Philippou, Elena
AU - Vasiari, Eirini
AU - de Andrade, Vanda Lopes
AU - Massaro, Marika
AU - Chervenkov, Mihail
AU - Ivanova, Teodora
AU - Jorge, Rui
AU - Dimitrova, Dessislava
AU - Ruskovska, Tatjana
AU - Miloseva, Lence
AU - Maksimova, Viktorija
AU - Smilkov, Katarina
AU - Gjorgieva Ackova, Darinka
AU - García-Conesa, María Teresa
AU - Pinto, Paula
AU - Kontogiorgis, Christos A.
PY - 2024/4/21
Y1 - 2024/4/21
N2 - Associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and dietary habits, employment status, and habitual activities are increasingly capturing the focus of researchers as well as policymakers worldwide. This study aimed to explore these associations in a sample of the population in Greece and Cyprus via an online survey. In total, 936 questionnaires (470: Cyprus, 466: Greece) were analyzed to study the associations between the Mediterranean Diet (MD) (using the 14-item MEDAS score, (14-MEDAS)), subjective well-being (SWB), and several socioeconomic factors. Key remarks of this survey highlight the positive impact of MD adherence on some well-being items. Namely, statistically significant differences were found on the following items: Satisfied with life (p < 0.001), Life worthwhile (p < 0.001), Feeling happy (p < 0.001), worried (p = 0.005), and depressed (p = 0.001), when comparing Low MD adherence (14-MEDAS < 5) to High MD adherence (14-MEDAS > 10). Other lifestyle habits such as spending time with friends and family, spending time in nature, and habitual physical activity were associated with aspects of SWB such as Life satisfaction, Life worthwhile, Feeling happy, and energetic. The findings support adherence to the MD, since it is associated with higher life satisfaction and self-reported happiness in this sample and should be considered when developing health policies on well-being.
AB - Associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and dietary habits, employment status, and habitual activities are increasingly capturing the focus of researchers as well as policymakers worldwide. This study aimed to explore these associations in a sample of the population in Greece and Cyprus via an online survey. In total, 936 questionnaires (470: Cyprus, 466: Greece) were analyzed to study the associations between the Mediterranean Diet (MD) (using the 14-item MEDAS score, (14-MEDAS)), subjective well-being (SWB), and several socioeconomic factors. Key remarks of this survey highlight the positive impact of MD adherence on some well-being items. Namely, statistically significant differences were found on the following items: Satisfied with life (p < 0.001), Life worthwhile (p < 0.001), Feeling happy (p < 0.001), worried (p = 0.005), and depressed (p = 0.001), when comparing Low MD adherence (14-MEDAS < 5) to High MD adherence (14-MEDAS > 10). Other lifestyle habits such as spending time with friends and family, spending time in nature, and habitual physical activity were associated with aspects of SWB such as Life satisfaction, Life worthwhile, Feeling happy, and energetic. The findings support adherence to the MD, since it is associated with higher life satisfaction and self-reported happiness in this sample and should be considered when developing health policies on well-being.
KW - Cyprus
KW - Greece
KW - life satisfaction
KW - lifestyle
KW - Mediterranean diet adherence
KW - subjective well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191636350&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nu16081238
DO - 10.3390/nu16081238
M3 - Article
C2 - 38674928
AN - SCOPUS:85191636350
SN - 2072-6643
VL - 16
JO - Nutrients
JF - Nutrients
IS - 8
ER -