ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the earliest developmental stage at which the association between unhealthy dietary patterns and depressive symptoms emerges, given that this relationship is well-documented in adolescents and adults but remains understudied in young children. Methods: Children (N = 2360; mean age of 5.1SD = 0.2 years; 48% female) enrolled in the CHILD birth cohort study were included. Parent-reported data on demographics, dietary intake, sleep, physical activity, mental health outcomes (Child Behavior Checklist CBCL), and family variables (parental education, household income, maternal depressive symptoms) were collected. Missing covariate data with <15% missingness were handled using multiple imputations by chained equations. Dietary patterns were derived using Principal Component Analysis with a varimax rotation to enhance interpretability. Multiple regression was used to test the association between dietary patterns and mental health outcomes while accounting for covariates. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified: “Prudent” (high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, eggs, and fish); “Western-like” (high in fast foods, meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages); and “Refined Grain–Snack” (high in refined grains, dairy, and salty snacks). For the full sample, the mean CBCL subscale scores were as follows: Total Problems = 41.379.22, Internalizing Problems = 44.699.18, and Externalizing Problems = 39.789.65. Greater adherence to the prudent pattern was associated with fewer Total Problems (β = −0.10, p = 0.003), Internalizing Problems (β = −0.10, p = 0.001), and Externalizing Problems (β = −0.08, p = 0.016 in fully adjusted models. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the relationship between mental health and diet is observable in young children, highlighting a potential opportunity for preventive interventions. Longitudinal research is needed to determine the temporal association between dietary patterns and mental health symptoms.
Campisi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.