Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Sleep Quality in University Students

Abstract

A healthy diet is an important supporter of quality of life. Food is a basic human right. Sleep, like food, is an indispensable part of life. A healthy diet and quality sleep can contribute to our health and well-being. This study was conducted to determine the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the sleep quality of university students. The study was carried out on 480 people, 331 women and 149 men, who were studying at Higher Education Institutions in the Republic of Türkiye and voluntarily accepted to participate in the study. The demographic characteristics of the individuals, smoking, alcohol and caffeinated beverage use, and dietary habits were questioned with a questionnaire. The Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. Participants were made up of 69.0% (n=331) females and 31% (n=149) males. The average age; was 21.00±2.853, mean body mass index was 21.23±4.921 kg/m2 in women; in males, it was found to be 24±3.223 kg/m2. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet of the participants was 47.3% (n=227) below 7 points, which was insufficient adherence, 27.1% (n=130) were within the range of 7-8 points, which was acceptable adherence, and 25.6% (n=123) It was found above 9 points, which is strict adherence. Again, the average PSQI score of the participants is 6.29±3.06, the average PSQI score of women is 6.33±2.93 while the average PSQI score of men is 6.19±3.36. There was no significant difference between the PSQI scores of women and men (p>0.05). Sleep and nutritional status have many effects on health. For this reason, training should be given to individuals to increase the sleep quality of the students and to improve their nutritional status.