Research: Diet and Mental Health: A Clear Link Universities Can’t Ignore

Students are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health challenges during the transition to university, a period that can also negatively impact their diet quality. This systematic review, inclusive of existing international studies, aimed to investigate the relationship between student eating habits and their mental wellbeing. The findings reported that students with healthier diets tended to experience better mental health outcomes, including lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conversely, students experiencing higher levels of stress and anxiety were more likely to have poorer dietary habits, highlighting a clear two-way relationship between diet and mental wellbeing. While the strength of these associations was generally small to moderate, the overall pattern was consistent and meaningful across the evidence base.

Improving access to healthy food and supporting students to manage stress may enhance both wellbeing and academic performance, reinforcing the importance of integrating nutrition into broader student health and wellbeing strategies.

Citation: Solomou, S., Logue, J., Reilly, S. & Perez-Algorta, G. A systematic review of the association of diet quality with the mental health of university students: implications in health education practice. Health Education Research, Volume 38, 2023. (link)