Association between breakfast frequency, community space environment, and psychological symptoms: a cross-sectional study of Chinese adolescents

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Background Mental disorders among adolescents are a key global public health issue. This study aims to investigate the association between breakfast frequency and the community's space environment to promote the mental health of adolescents in China. Methods This study employed a stratified random cluster sampling method in 2025; a total of 45,404 adolescents aged 12–17 were recruited from six regions in China. The researchers assessed the participants‘ breakfast frequency, the space environment of their neighborhoods, and their psychological symptoms. Using methods such as t -tests, chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and binary logistic regression with interaction terms, we examined the joint association between adolescents' breakfast frequency, the spatial environment of their communities, and psychological symptoms. Results The prevalence rates of emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment problems among Chinese adolescents are 27.6%, 26.6%, and 17.5%. The overall prevalence of psychological symptoms was 21.2%. Those who eat breakfast <1 time/week have a 2.41-fold higher risk of psychological symptoms than those who eat breakfast ≥4 times/week. Those who are dissatisfied with their community space environment are 1.71 times more likely to be at risk than those who are satisfied. Those who eat breakfast <1 time/week and are dissatisfied with their environment have the highest risk of psychological symptoms. Conclusion Among Chinese adolescents, the less frequently they eat breakfast and the lower their satisfaction with their community space environment, the more severe their psychological symptoms are. regular breakfast consumption and improved community's space environment may be important public health strategies associated with lower levels of psychological symptoms among adolescents.