Macronutrient intake as a prospective predictor of depressive symptom severity: An exploratory study with adolescent elite athletes
(Makronährstoffaufnahme als prospektiver Prädiktor für den Schweregrad depressiver Symptome: Eine explorative Studie mit jugendlichen Spitzensportlern)
Background
Appropriate availability of macro- and micronutrients has an important impact on cognitive performance, mood and mental health. Although the critical role of nutrition for elite athletes` performance was recognized early on, little is known about whether consumption of specific macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fat) predict the development of future depressive symptoms in adolescent elite athletes.
Methods
Participants were recruited from three Swiss Olympic Partner Schools (SOPS) in the Northwestern German speaking part of Switzerland. A total of 97 adolescent elite athletes (38% girls, Mage = 16.35 ± 1.19) participated in the study. Depressive symptoms (PHQ9) were assessed at baseline and after 10 months follow-up. A 3-day food recall was completed three months after the baseline assessment. Linear regression analyses were used to examine whether macronutrients predict depression symptom severity after controlling for covariates and baseline depressive symptoms.
Results
Higher protein consumption in athletes was a prospective predictor of lower depressive symptom severity at follow-up (ß = -35, p < .05). Several deviations from recommended nutritional standards were observed in elite athletes.
Conclusions
The findings of this exploratory study support the notion that dietary behaviour may be prospectively associated with athletes` mental health. However, more research is required with larger samples and more in-depth assessment techniques. Future research should also examine whether nutrition education and dietary modification can be used to prevent depressive symptoms among adolescent elite athletes.
© Copyright 2023 Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Elsevier. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Schlagworte: | mental Nachwuchsleistungssport Gesundheit kognitive Fähigkeit Adoleszenz Ernährung Fett Kohlenhydrat Eiweiß Depression |
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Notationen: | Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaften Nachwuchssport |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102387 |
Veröffentlicht in: | Psychology of Sport and Exercise |
Veröffentlicht: |
2023
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Jahrgang: | 66 |
Seiten: | 102387 |
Dokumentenarten: | Artikel |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Level: | hoch |