Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Distress Are Related to Dietary Diversity Score

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the dietary diversity score, depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in healthy adults. In this cross-sectional study of 3362 adults, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and General Health Questionnaires were used to assess anxiety, depression, and psychological distress, respectively. Dietary intake was assessed by a validated 106-item self-managed dish-based food frequency questionnaire. The lower level of dietary diversity score (tertile 1) in the total population and women were associated with a higher risk of depression and psychological stress. After adjustment for various confounders in the final model, the associations remained significant supporting the association among dietary diversity, depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.