The mediating effect of food choice upon associations between adolescent health-related quality of life and physical activity, social media use and abstinence from alcohol

Jenny Davison, Brendan Bunting, Barbara Stewart-Knox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
37 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Understanding how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is related to lifestyle factors during adolescence is crucial to effective health promotion. The aim of this analysis was to identify associations between HRQoL and lifestyle and to determine the degree to which they are mediated by food choices in adolescents.

Methods
The Wellbeing in Schools (NI) survey (N = 1609; 13–14 years) assessed HRQoL using the Kidscreen52. Food choice was assessed by Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). Social media and alcohol abstinence were self-reported.

Results
Path analysis indicated that fruit and vegetable intake was associated with higher HRQoL on dimensions of moods and emotions, parent relations and home life, financial resources, and social support and peers. Bread and diary intake was related to higher physical wellbeing. Protein was associated with higher psychological wellbeing, moods and emotions, self-perception, parent relations and home life, financial resources, and lower social support and peers. Junk food was related to lower moods and emotions. Males had higher psychological wellbeing, moods and emotions, parental relations and home life. Females had higher self-perception, autonomy, and social support and peers. Greater physical activity explained higher HRQoL on all dimensions. Less social media was associated with higher psychological wellbeing, moods and emotions, self-perception, parent relations and home life, and school environment. Alcohol abstinence was associated with higher physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, moods and emotions, self-perception, parent relations and home life, and school environment dimensions.

Conclusion
Intervention to promote HRQoL in adolescents should consider food choices whilst encouraging physical activity, discouraging social media and deterring alcohol, and targeting boys and girls separately.
Original languageEnglish
Article number46
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes
Volume21
Issue number1
Early online date18 May 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 18 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was financially supported by the Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), and the Centre of Evidence and Social Innovation, at Queens University Belfast.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Health related quality of life
  • Kidscreen52
  • Food choice
  • Physical activity
  • Social media
  • Alcohol
  • Adolescents
  • Health-related quality of life

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