Babaeer L, Stylianou M, Walker JL, Gomersall SR. Dietary intake and educational outcomes among Australian university students: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations.
Public Health Nutr 2022;
25:1-15. [PMID:
36047050 PMCID:
PMC9991678 DOI:
10.1017/s1368980022001847]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between dietary intake and educational outcomes (EO) in Australian first-year university students.
DESIGN
This cross-sectional and longitudinal study measured outcomes of interest at three points over 1 year. Measures included self-reported dietary patterns and dietary intake via a three-day estimated food record. Objective EO (corresponding semester grade point average (GPA), overall GPA and graduation status) variables were extracted from academic records. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations were examined using regression models and generalised estimating equations, respectively.
SETTING
A large university in Queensland, Australia.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants (n 80) were first-year students who had completed high school in the previous year.
RESULTS
Some significant associations were found with semester GPA, including: (a) moderate positive associations between serves of vegetables and semester GPA at time point 2 and over time; and (b) a weak negative association between Na intake and semester GPA at time point 2. Although insignificant, meaningful negative associations were found between alcohol consumption and semester GPA at time point 1 and over time. Some significant associations were also found with graduation status, including: (a) a positive association between meeting Australian carbohydrate recommendations and graduation status; and (b) a negative association between Fe intake and graduation status, both at time point 1.
CONCLUSIONS
Both cross-sectional and longitudinal findings highlight positive associations between vegetable intake and EO and negative associations between alcohol consumption and EO. Further relevant work is needed with larger, more variable samples in demographic, dietary and EO characteristics.
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