Dietary Habits and Mental Health According to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Caffeine Consumption in Adolescents: Using data from the 18th (2022) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey
This study examined dietary habits and mental health according to generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) and caffeine consumption in adolescents. The data were collected from the 18th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey with a sample of 51,850 students. The proportion of students in the GAD High-Risk · Caffeine consumption group (GHRCC) who consumed sweet drinks (p< .001), fast food (p< .001), and midnight meals (p< .001) every day was 15.6, 21.9, and 22.4%, respectively. These proportions were higher than those of students who consumed sweet drinks, fast food, and midnight meals 1-2 times a week, 3-4 times a week, or not at all. In addition, the proportions of GHRCC among students who responded “yes” to experiencing sadness and despair (p< .001), suicidal thoughts (p< .001), suicide plans (p< .001), suicide attempts (p< .001), and loneliness (p< .001) were higher than students who responded “no.” The GAD High-Risk group (GHR) had higher odds with the consumption of midnight meals (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 2.10-2.99), caffeine consumption (OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 2.21-2.74), and fast food (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.75-2.55) than GAD Low-Risk group. Based on the above results, the risk of GHR was higher among students who consumed midnight meals, caffeine, and fast food daily than those who did not.