Next Article in Journal
Technology Evolution of China’s Export of Renewable Energy Products
Next Article in Special Issue
Prevailing over Adversity: Factors Counteracting the Long-Term Negative Health Influences of Social and Material Disadvantages in Youth
Previous Article in Journal
Post Vaccinal Temporary Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Previous Article in Special Issue
Comorbidity of Physical and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescent: Functional Impairment, Self-Rated Health and Subjective Well-Being
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 15
Issue 8
10.3390/ijerph15081781
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Eat or Skip Breakfast? The Important Role of Breakfast Quality for Health-Related Quality of Life, Stress and Depression in Spanish Adolescents

by
Rosario Ferrer-Cascales
1,
Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo
1,
Nicolás Ruiz-Robledillo
1,*,
Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez
1,
Ana Laguna-Pérez
2 and
Ana Zaragoza-Martí
2
1
Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
2
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(8), 1781; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph15081781
Submission received: 28 July 2018 / Revised: 14 August 2018 / Accepted: 15 August 2018 / Published: 19 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress, Coping, and Resilience in Adolescents)
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
This study examined the associations between eating or skipping breakfast and the quality of breakfast eaten on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), perceived stress and depression in 527 Spanish adolescents. Results showed differences in stress and two domains of HRQOL; Moods and Emotions and Parent Relations and Home Life between adolescent breakfast skippers and eaters, those having breakfast showing higher levels of stress and poor HRQOL. When breakfast quality was analyzed in breakfast eaters, adolescents who ate a good quality breakfast showed better HRQOL and lower levels of stress and depression than those who ate a poor or very poor quality breakfast. Further, breakfast skippers showed better HRQOL and lower levels of stress and depression than breakfast eaters who ate a poor or very poor quality breakfast. These findings indicate the importance of eating a good quality breakfast, rather than just having or not having breakfast. The conclusions of the present study are especially relevant for clinicians and nutritional educators, given the significant impact of breakfast quality on health-related quality of life, stress and depression observed in the adolescents studied.

1. Introduction

In Mediterranean countries, breakfast has been recognized as one the most important meal of the day [1]. Regular consumption of breakfast is associated with a range of benefits in children and adolescents including more adequate intakes of macro and micronutrients [2,3]; lower body mass index (BMI) [4]); higher cognitive performance [5,6]; and better levels of well-being [7] and quality of life [8]. Breakfast consumption among children and adolescents has shown to induce changes in metabolism, leading to improved diet quality and better food choices which may impact favorably on adolescents’ well-being and healthy habits throughout life, especially during early development [9,10]. Standard nutritional recommendations suggest that an ideal breakfast meal should contain 20 to 35% of daily energy derived from three food groups, including milk and milk derivatives, cereals (unrefined and whole grain) and fresh fruit or juice without added sugar [9].
Despite the potential physical and mental benefits of eating breakfast, several representative national surveys in North America and Europe have shown that breakfast skipping is highly prevalent [10,11] with an increased incidence from childhood through adolescence [12]. In the USA and Europe from 10 to 30% of young people report skipping breakfast and more than half show an inadequate/unbalanced breakfast pattern characterized by the intake of only one dairy food, one cereal food, or one piece of fruit [11,13]. Concretely in Europe, a recent study has shown that 24% of males and 33% of females are breakfast skippers [14]. However, other study conducted in ten European countries has demonstrated higher rates of breakfast skipping, exhibiting that 44% of females and 36% of males are breakfast skippers [15]. In addition to sex, other variables have shown to be moderators of breakfast consumption, such as the type of the day or the specific European country [16,17]. In this sense, it has been corroborated that prevalence of breakfast consumption was 74.4% for weekdays and 87.3% for weekends [16]. Regarding specific European countries, adolescents from Greece and Slovenia are the most breakfast skippers [17]. This fact demonstrates the need to analyze the phenomenon of breakfast consumption in each country deeply.
Breakfast skipping has been considered an important determinant of an unhealthy lifestyle that may serve as a proxy factor for other health-risk behaviors, including alcohol use, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle, as well as low educational attainment, mood changes, and depressive symptoms [18]. It has also been associated with a lower quality of life and chronic stress which may in turn increase the lifetime risk of cardiometabolic disease [19,20,21].
Different studies to date have provided data on breakfast habits among adolescents and their negative influence on psychological and physical status [14,15]. What is less clear, is whether the quality of breakfast has a significant impact on physical and mental health status in adolescents, rather than the factor of skipping or eating breakfast. Some recent findings examining the role of breakfast composition and quality of breakfast suggest that some specific foods, such as cereals or dairy products, might play a protective role in positive health benefits among adolescents, being associated with better nutrient intake, a higher level of physical activity and a reduced consumption of fats throughout the day [22,23]. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, extremely few studies have analyzed the relationship between quality of breakfast and mental health variables, such as depression, stress and HRQOL, in adolescents [16]. Furthermore, no studies have assessed whether skipping breakfast might be better than eating a poor quality breakfast. For these reasons, the present study sought to extend the existing literature on the relationship between breakfast quality and mental health in adolescents. Specifically, this study aimed to analyze the protective effects of eating breakfast on mental health and HRQOL. We hypothesized that a high quality breakfast, more than whether breakfast is eaten or skipped, would be positively related to all domains of HRQOL and to lower depressive symptoms and perceived stress in adolescents, indicating a possible protective effect of this dietary pattern. To test this hypothesis, we examined a sample of adolescent students living in a Mediterranean area in the east of Spain.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Procedure

The present study was a part of a large-scale study on Mediterranean diet and well-being conducted in schools in the Mediterranean city of Alicante, Spain. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Alicante and by the management teams of the schools involved in the study (UA2015-1013). Participants included 527 high school students randomly selected from 5 public high schools in Alicante (Spain), of which 54.5% (n = 287) were female and 45.5% (n = 240) male. Participants ranged in age from 12 to 17 years, with a mean age of 14.30 (SD = 1.52). Inclusion criteria were: (1) Presence in the classroom on the day of the survey; and (2) ability to read and complete the questionnaires themselves. Prior to conducting the study, parents were asked to provide informed consent for their child to participate in the study. Students who were present on the day of data collection and assented to participate in the study were instructed to complete an anonymous online survey in the classroom. Participants were retained in the final sample only if they responded to all the questions involving the dependent variables assessing breakfast consumption and quality of life. Data were collected by a research assistant during the second and third trimester of the 2015–2016 academic year and sessions lasted approximately 60 min.

2.2. Measures

2.2.1. Breakfast Eating and Breakfast Quality

In order to identify whether adolescents ate breakfast or not, and the quality of the breakfast they ate, we analyzed four items covering breakfast from the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and teenagers (KIDMED) [24]. KIDMED is a questionnaire originally designed in Spain, and since employed in numerous international studies, for assessing adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children and young people. Consisting of 16 questions rated on a scale ranging from 0 to 12, this tool can be self-administered or administered by an interviewer following a standard protocol. To identify whether adolescents had breakfast, we considered scores on the following item: “Skip breakfast”, and to evaluate the quality of the breakfast eaten, we considered the responses to the following three items: (1) “Have cereal or other grain-based products (bread, toast, etc.) for breakfast”; (2) “Have some type of dairy product for breakfast”; and (3) “Have commercially baked goods (e.g., biscuits or pastries) for breakfast”. Based on the scores in these items, the sample was divided as follows: (1) Very poor quality breakfast: adolescents that did not eat bread/toast or cereal or dairy products for breakfast, but did eat commercially baked goods; (2) poor quality breakfast: adolescents that ate bread/toast/cereal and/or dairy products for breakfast but, at the same time, also ate commercially baked goods; and (3) good quality breakfast: adolescents that ate bread/toast/cereal and/or dairy products for breakfast and did not eat commercially baked goods.

2.2.2. HRQOL—Health Related Quality of Life

KIDSCREEN-52 is a self-administered questionnaire measuring HRQOL in children and adolescents. It has 10 subscales covering the following dimensions: Physical Well-Being, Psychological Well-Being, Moods and Emotions, Self-Perception, Autonomy, Parent Relations and Home Life, Financial Resources, Social Support and Peers, School Environment and Social Acceptance. Items are scored on a five-point Likert-type scale. The Spanish version of KIDSCREEN-52 has shown to have good psychometric properties, with adequate validity, reliability, and cross-cultural comparability [25].

2.2.3. Stress Perception

Stress perception was evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale [26]. This questionnaire is composed of 4 items scored on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “never” to “very often”. The total score is obtained by summing across all four items (maximum = 16). Higher scores are indicative of greater stress. The Spanish adaptation developed by Herrero and Meneses [27] employed in the present study has demonstrated adequate psychometric properties.

2.2.4. Depression

The Short Web-Based version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [27,28], is a seven-item scale which evaluates the presence of depressive symptoms including the following dimensions: depressed affect, positive affect, somatic and retarded activity, and interpersonal problems. This instrument provides a general measure of depressive mood (with items including “I felt depressed” and “I was bothered by things that usually don’t bother me”). Responses are rated on a four-point Likert scale.

2.3. Data Analysis

T-tests were performed in order to assess differences between breakfast skippers and eaters in HRQOL, stress perception and depression. Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze differences in HRQOL factors between groups formed on the basis of breakfast quality (very poor quality, poor quality and good quality), and univariate ANOVA to identify differences between these groups in stress perception and depression. The same types of analyses (multivariate ANOVA for HRQOL and univariate ANOVA for perceived stress and depression) were employed to identify differences between breakfast skippers and eaters of very poor and poor quality breakfasts. Post-hoc analyses were implemented to examine specific differences between groups, with the Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS, Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0, considering any p < 0.05 as significant.

3. Results

3.1. Are There Differences between Breakfast Skippers and Eaters in HRQOL, Perceived Stress and Depression?

For HRQOL, differences between breakfast skippers and eaters were found in Moods and Emotion and Parent Relations and Home Life. Total HRQOL also differed between groups. In all cases, breakfast skippers had better HRQOL. Differences in perceived stress were also found, breakfast skippers showing lower levels of perceived stress than breakfast eaters. Regarding depression, differences between these groups were not significant (Table 1).

3.2. Are There Differences in HRQOL, Perceived Stress and Depression Depending on Breakfast Quality?

In order to evaluate differences within breakfast eaters by the quality of breakfast consumed, we investigated differences in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression between adolescents who ate very poor, poor and good quality breakfasts. In the case of HRQOL, significant differences were found in all of the dimensions evaluated: Physical Well-being, Psychological Well-being, Moods and Emotions, Self-Perception, Autonomy, Parent Relations and Home Life, Financial Resources, Social Support and Peers, School Environment, and Social Acceptance. There were also significant differences in total HRQOL. Post-hoc comparisons showed HRQOL was better in all dimensions for eaters of good quality breakfasts than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001 in all cases). Similarly, eaters of good quality breakfasts obtained better scores in HRQOL dimensions than eaters of poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001 in all cases), except in the case of Autonomy, Financial resources and Social acceptance. Furthermore, eaters of poor quality breakfasts obtained higher scores in Physical Well-being, Psychological Well-being, Moods and Emotions, Autonomy, Parent Relations and Home Life, Financial Resources, Social Support and Peers, School Environment, Social Acceptance and total HRQOL than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.05 in all cases) (Table 2).
With respect to perceived stress, significant differences were found between groups. Post-hoc analyses revealed that eaters of good quality breakfasts show lower perceived stress than eaters of very poor and poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001). Likewise, eaters of poor quality breakfasts showed lower perceived stress than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001). Finally, significant differences were also found in depression. Post-hoc comparisons found differences between all groups, eaters of good quality breakfasts showing lower levels of depression than eaters of poor or very poor quality breakfast (p < 0.001) and eaters of poor quality breakfasts less depression than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001).

3.3. Is Skipping Breakfast Better Than Eating a Poor or Very Poor Quality Breakfast?

To investigate whether skipping breakfast is better than eating a poor or very poor quality breakfast, we analyzed differences in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression between adolescents in each of these groups. Regarding HRQOL, significant differences were found for all factors: Physical Well-being, Psychological Well-being, Moods and Emotions, Self-Perception, Autonomy, Parent Relations and Home Life, Financial Resources, Social Support and Peers, School Environment, and Social Acceptance, as well as total HRQOL. Post-hoc comparisons revealed that breakfast skippers obtained better results in all HRQOL dimensions than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001 in all cases) and also better Physical Well-Being than eaters of poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.05).
In depression, significant differences were also found, breakfast skippers having lower levels of depression than eaters of very poor quality breakfasts (p < 0.001). Finally, regarding perceived stress, differences were again significant. Post-hoc analyses showed that breakfast skippers had lower perceived stress than eaters of very poor and poor quality breakfast (p < 0.05) (Table 3).

4. Discussion

This study examined the relationship between breakfast consumption and perceived stress, depressive symptoms and HRQOL among adolescent students. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates the importance of the quality of breakfast, for the maintenance of a good HRQOL and lower levels of stress and depression in adolescents. Contrary to previous studies, we found that compared to breakfast eating, skipping breakfast was significantly associated with better HRQOL and lower perceived stress. We investigated whether the quality of breakfast consumption rather than eating or not eating breakfast might help to explain these results. To test this hypothesis, we compared first (i) the differences in perceived stress, depressive symptoms and HRQOL between adolescents who reported consuming good, poor and very poor quality breakfasts, and second; (ii) differences in mental health and HRQOL between those who skipped breakfast and those who ate a poor or very poor quality breakfast.
Regarding the first set of comparisons, our findings suggest that a high-quality breakfast, characterized by consumption of cereal and dairy products, is associated with a better HRQOL and lower levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms in adolescents. The positive contribution of breakfast to nutritional status and subjective health in children and adolescents has been previously linked to the quality of breakfast and the type of food consumed [29]. In children, a high quality breakfast has been defined as those including cereals, fruit or fruit juice and low-fat milk or other dairy products [9]. Cereals have commonly been considered a healthy breakfast food due to them containing a wide range of healthy micronutrients, protein, sugars, and carbohydrates and that they are frequently consumed with other healthy foods such as milk, which is known to be a significant source of calcium [18]. Previous studies have found that consumption of breakfast, in particular breakfast cereals, is associated with better physical and mental well-being and subjective health [30,31]. Our results are also consistent with the traditional view that eating a healthy breakfast is linked to lower mental distress, fewer depressive symptoms, positive mood and improved quality of life [32].
Although the mechanism through which breakfast contributes to reducing depression and stress remains unclear, several mechanisms have been proposed. Specifically, after eating breakfast, carbohydrates are converted into glucose producing changes in levels of acetylcholine, insulin, serotonin, glutamate and cortisol [23,33]. Ingestion of carbohydrates is particularly beneficial for the brain after night fasting as it reduces levels of cortisol production thereby decreasing the ‘stress’ signal. In addition, conversion of carbohydrates into glucose is essential for the formation of tryptophan, a precursor protein for the synthesis of serotonin, which regulates depressive symptoms, irritable mood and cognitive functioning [34,35]. Several studies support these assumptions, showing that individuals who eat a healthy balanced breakfast have a better mental health status, more positive attitudes to life [36], lower rates of depression [34] and high levels of quality of life than those who eat a poor quality breakfast [8]. Adolescents eating a high quality breakfast also display a healthy pattern of behavior including a relatively high level of physical activity and low consumption of fats throughout the day [22]. This positive effect of a good quality breakfast as a marker of a healthy lifestyle is particularly significant in childhood and adolescence, when dietary and other lifestyle pattern are initiated, resulting in long-term health and nutritional benefits in adulthood [8].
Our findings also suggest that adolescents with a regular habit of skipping breakfast have better HRQOL, less subjective stress and fewer depressive symptoms than those who eat a very poor quality breakfast, characterized by consumption of commercially baked goods. Although the lack of a standardized definition of what constitutes a poor quality breakfast, as well as different methods for measuring breakfast consumption, may lead to different results across studies examining the link between breakfast consumption and composition on health outcomes [37], previous studies in children and adults indicate that the consumption of high levels of added sugar, fat and commercially baked goods may contribute to dietary inadequacies that are not compensated for by other meals [38,39], and these might in turn affect HRQOL, depression and stress. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that there is a link between increased sugar consumption, major depression and oxidative stress in humans. Higher added sugar intakes have been reported in individuals at risk for depression [40] and neuroimaging studies confirm that exposure to pleasant tastes such as added sugar activate the same brain regions of the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior insula, and amygdala as those activated in patients with depression [41,42]. All of these factors could explain the results obtained in the present study, in which adolescents who consumed a poor or very poor quality breakfast showed poorer health outcomes than those who skipped breakfast. Some evidence suggest that calorie restriction of skipping breakfast may have more beneficial effects that a poor quality breakfast given that calorie restriction particularly, suppression of added sugar intakes has been shown to have metabolic benefits including neuroprotective, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory outcomes. Thus, it is possible that calorie restriction play a similar role in psychological wellbeing and quality of life. Nevertheless, futures studies should examine these hypotheses exhaustively and attempt to replicate this pattern of results [43].
Although the present study entails an important advance in the comprehension of the effects of breakfast on psychological functioning in adolescents, some limitations should be addressed. Firstly, the cross-sectional design of the study does not allow us to establish causal relationships between the variables studied. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore how breakfasts habits could play an important role on psychological wellbeing and quality of life. Secondly, dietary information from participants was based on self-report which may be subject to error, in particular, underreporting. Further, the quality of breakfasts was evaluated through three items of a previous validated questionnaire employed to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, rather than a specific instrument focused on assessing breakfast quality. Nevertheless, the relevant content of these items (intakes of cereals, dairy products and commercially baked goods) and the differences obtained between groups formed based on the scores on these items demonstrate their validity to stratify adolescents by the quality of breakfast they usually eat. Hence, the results obtained indicate the validity and usability of a short form to assess breakfast quality in this population, containing information about the intake of foods essential for what is traditionally considered a good-quality breakfast (namely, cereal and dairy products) [23]. Furthermore, the variables evaluated are key factors for improving our understanding of the important role that nutritional factors play in the psychological functioning and HRQOL of adolescents. However, several other potential outcomes that may be linked to quality of life and psychological wellbeing in adolescent student were not included in the current study. Future research should assess the impact of additional variables such as the cultural differences in breakfast, composition of breakfast, weight as well as the protective role of family in individuals who skipping breakfast. Despite these limitations, this study provides evidence of the important that breakfast play on health and psychological wellbeing.

5. Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study that has shown the importance of the quality of breakfast, rather than just whether breakfast is eaten or skipped, for the achieving good HRQOL and low levels of stress and depression in adolescents. As previously described, breakfast can potentially affect mental health in several ways. Although most previous research has indicated that breakfast consumption is valuable for the mental and physical health of adolescents, few studies have gone a step further, analyzing the importance of the quality of the breakfast consumed. Our findings entail a significant advance in the field of nutrition education, in that they imply that nutritional programs should not only include strategies for promoting breakfast consumption, but should place emphasis on the eating of a healthy breakfast.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: N.R.-R., R.F.-C., M.S.-S., N.A.-B., A.L.-P., A.Z.-M. analyzed the data: N.A.-B., R.F.-C., M.S.-S. Wrote the paper: N.A.-B., M.S.-S., R.F.-C., A.L.-P., A.Z.-M. Data interpretation and critical revision of manuscript: N.A.-B., N.R.-R., A.Z.-M., R.F.-C., M.S.-S., A.L.-P.; and all authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under project TIN2017-89069-R.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Affenito, S.G. Breakfast: A Missed Opportunity. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2007, 107, 565–569. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Coulthard, J.D.; Palla, L.; Pot, G.K. Breakfast consumption and nutrient intakes in 4–18-year-olds: UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (2008–2012). Br. J. Nutr. 2017, 118, 280–290. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  3. Peshmukh-Taskar, P.R.; Radcliffe, J.D.; Liu, Y.; Nicklas, T.A. Do breakfast skipping and breakfast type affect energy intake, nutrient intake, nutrient adequacy, and diet quality in young adults? NHANES 1999–2002. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 2010, 29, 407–418. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Moreno, L.A.; Rodríguez, G. Dietary risk factors for development of childhood obesity. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 2007, 10, 336–341. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  5. Bellisle, F. Effects of diet on behaviour and cognition in children. Br. J. Nutr. 2004, 92, S227–S232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  6. Rampersaud, G.C.; Pereira, M.A.; Girard, B.L.; Adams, J.; Metzl, J.D. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2005, 105, 743–760. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Lloyd, H.M.; Rogers, P.J.; Hedderley, D.I.; Walker, A.F. Acute effects on mood and cognitive performance of breakfasts differing in fat and carbohydrate content. Appetite 1996, 27, 151–164. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  8. Chen, X.; Sekine, M.; Hamanishi, S.; Wang, H.; Gaina, A.; Yamagami, T.; Kagamimori, S. Lifestyles and health-related quality of life in Japanese school children: A cross-sectional study. Prev. Med. 2005, 40, 668–678. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Giovannini, M.; Verduci, E.; Scaglioni, S.; Salvatici, E.; Bonza, M.; Riva, E.; Agostoni, C. Breakfast: A good habit, not a repetitive custom. J. Int. Med. Res. 2008, 36, 613–624. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  10. Raaijmakers, L.G.; Bessems, K.M.; Kremers, S.P.; van Assema, P. Breakfast consumption among children and adolescents in the Netherlands. Eur. J. Public Health 2009, 20, 318–324. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  11. Bellisle, F.; Rolland-Cachera, M.F. Three consecutive (1993, 1995, 1997) surveys of food intake, nutritional attitudes and knowledge, and lifestyle in 1000 French children, aged 9–11 years. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 2007, 20, 241–251. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  12. Pearson, N.; Biddle, S.J.; Gorely, T. Family correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Public Health Nutr. 2009, 12, 267–283. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  13. Bellù, R.; Riva, E.; Ortisi, M.T.; De Notaris, R.; Santini, I.; Giovannini, M. Validity of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate mean nutrient intake of Italian school children. Nutr. Res. 1996, 16, 197–200. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Hallström, L.; Labayen, I.; Ruiz, J.R.; Patterson, E.; Vereecken, C.A.; Breidenassel, C.; Gottrand, F.; Huybrechts, I.; Manios, Y.; Misturi, L.; et al. Breakfast consumption and CVD risk factors in European adolescents: The HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study. Public Health Nutr. 2013, 16, 1296–1305. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Barrett, N.; Riordan, F.; Michels, N.; Andersen, L.F.; vant Veer, P.; Moreno, L.A.; Widhalm, K.; Manios, Y.; Gottrand, F.; Santaliestra-Pasías, A.M.; et al. Breakfast Skipping and overweight/obesity among European adolescents, a cross-sectional analysis of the HELENA dataset: A DEDIPAC study. HRB Open Res. 2018, 1–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Manios, Y.; Moschonis, G.; Androutsos, O.; Filippou, C.; Van Lippevelde, W.; Vik, F.N.; te Velde, S.J.; Jan, N.; Dössegger, A.; Bere, E.; et al. Family sociodemographic characteristics as correlates of children’s breakfast habits and weight status in eight European countries. The ENERGY (EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth) project. Public Health Nutr. 2015, 18, 774–783. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  17. Brug, J.; van Stralen, M.M.; te Velde, S.J.; Chinapaw, M.J.M.; De Bourdeaudhuij, I.; Lien, N.; Bere, E.; Maskini, V.; Singh, A.S.; Maes, L.; et al. Differences in Weight Status and Energy-Balance Related Behaviors among Schoolchildren across Europe: The ENERGY-Project. PLoS ONE 2012, 7, e34742. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  18. Keski-Rahkonen, A.; Kaprio, J.; Rissanen, A.; Virkkunen, M.; Rose, R.J. Breakfast skipping and health-compromising behaviors in adolescents and adults. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 2003, 57, 842. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  19. Neumark-Sztainer, D.; Eisenberg, M.E.; Fulkerson, J.A.; Story, M.; Larson, N.I. Family meals and disordered eating in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from project EAT. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 2008, 10, 336–341. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  20. Neumark-Sztainer, D.; Hannan, P.J. Weight-related behaviors among adolescent girls and boys: Results from a national survey. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2000, 154, 569–577. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  21. Witbracht, M.; Keim, N.L.; Forester, S.; Widaman, A.; Laugero, K. Female breakfast skippers display a disrupted cortisol rhythm and elevated blood pressure. Physiol. Behav. 2015, 140, 215–221. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  22. Albertson, A.M.; Thompson, D.; Franko, D.L.; Kleinman, R.E.; Barton, B.A.; Crockett, S.J. Consumption of breakfast cereal is associated with positive health outcomes: Evidence from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. Nutr. Res. 2008, 28, 744–752. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. O’Sullivan, T.A.; Robinson, M.; Kendall, G.E.; Miller, M.; Jacoby, P.; Silburn, S.R.; Oddy, W.H. A good-quality breakfast is associated with better mental health in adolescence. Public Health Nutr. 2009, 12, 249–258. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  24. Serra-Majem, L.; Ribas, L.; Ngo, J.; Ortega, R.M.; García, A.; Pérez-Rodrigo, C.; Aranceta, J. Food, youth and the Mediterranean diet in Spain. Public Health Nutr. 2004, 7, 931–935. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  25. O’Neil, C.E.; Nicklas, T.A.; Fulgoni, V.L. Nutrient intake, diet quality, and weight/adiposity parameters in breakfast patterns compared with no breakfast in adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2008. J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 2014, 114, S27–S43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  26. Cohen, S.; Kamarck, T.; Mermelstein, R. A global measure of perceived stress. J. Health Soc. Behav. 1983, 24, 386–396. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Herrero, J.; Meneses, J. Short Web-based versions of the perceived stress (PSS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CESD) Scales: A comparison to pencil and paper responses among Internet users. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2006, 22, 830–846. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Radloff, L.S. The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl. Psychol. Meas. 1977, 1, 385–401. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Aymerich, M.; Berra, S.; Guillamón, I.; Herdman, M.; Alonso, J.; Ravens-Sieberer, U.; Rajmil, L. Desarrollo de la versión en español del KIDSCREEN, un cuestionario de calidad de vida para la población infantil y adolescente. Gaceta Sanit. 2005, 19, 93–102. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  30. Smith, A.P. Breakfast cereal consumption and subjective reports of health by young adults. Nut. Neurosci. 2003, 6, 59–61. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  31. Smith, A.P. The concept of well-being: Relevance to nutrition research. Br. J. Nutr. 2005, 93, S1–S5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  32. Smith, A.P.; Rich, N. Effects of consumption of snacks on simulated driving. Percept. Mot. Skills 1998, 87, 817–818. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  33. Hoyland, A.; Dye, L.; Lawton, C.L. A systematic review of the effect of breakfast on the cognitive performance of children and adolescents. Nutr. Res. Rev. 2009, 22, 220–243. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  34. Lee, S.A.; Park, E.C.; Ju, Y.J.; Lee, T.H.; Han, E.; Kim, T.H. Breakfast consumption and depressive mood: A focus on socioeconomic status. Appetite 2017, 114, 313–319. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  35. Miller, A.H.; Maletic, V.; Raison, C.L. Inflammation and its discontents: The role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depression. Biol. Psychiatry 2009, 65, 732–741. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  36. Weddle, D.O.; Gollub, E.; Stacey, S.S.; Wellman, N.S. The Morning Meals on Wheels Pilot Program: The Benefits to Elderly Nutrition Program Participants and Nutrition Projects; National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging: Miami, FL, USA, 1998; Available online: http://nutrition.fiu.edu/downloads/Final%20Report.11.28.98%20with%20forms.pdf (accessed on 10 July 2018).
  37. Timlin, M.T.; Pereira, M.A. Breakfast frequency and quality in the etiology of adult obesity and chronic diseases. Nutr. Rev. 2007, 65, 268–281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  38. Nicklas, T.A.; Bao, W.; Webber, L.S.; Berenson, G.S. Breakfast consumption affects adequacy of total daily intake in children. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1993, 93, 886–891. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Kerver, J.M.; Yang, E.J.; Obayashi, S.; Bianchi, L.; Song, W.O. Meal and snack patterns are associated with dietary intake of energy and nutrients in US adults. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 2006, 106, 46–53. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  40. Westover, A.N.; Marangell, L.B. A cross-national relationship between sugar consumption and major depression? Depress. Anxiety 2002, 16, 118–120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  41. O’Doherty, J.; Rolls, E.T.; Francis, S.; Bowtell, R.; McGlone, F. Representation of pleasant and aversive taste in the human brain. J. Neurophysiol. 2001, 85, 1315–1321. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  42. Drevets, W.C. Neuroimaging and neuropathological studies of depression: Implications for the cognitive-emotional features of mood disorders. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 2001, 11, 240–249. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Zilberter, T.; Zilberter, E.Y. Breakfast: To skip or not to skip? Front. Public Health 2014, 2, 59. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Table
Table 1. Differences between breakfast skippers and breakfast eaters in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), perceived stress and depression.
Table 1. Differences between breakfast skippers and breakfast eaters in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), perceived stress and depression.
Breakfast
SkippersEatersDifferences between GroupsCohen’s d
n = 140n = 387
HRQOL
Physical Well-being18.47 ± 3.4317.90 ± 4.05t(525) = 1.468,
p = 0.143		0.11
Psychological Well-being23.55 ± 4.7023.25 ± 4.84t(525) = 0.626,
p = 0.532		0.05
Moods and Emotions27.63 ± 5.7226.49 ± 5.81t(525) = 1.996,
p = 0.046		0.17
Self-Perception19.92 ± 3.4919.33 ± 3.49t(525) = 1.727,
p = 0.085		0.15
Autonomy19.38 ± 3.7618.87 ± 4.39t(285.426) = 1.311,
p = 0.191		0.15
Parent Relations and Home Life25.37 ± 4.5524.41 ± 4.97t(525) = 2,
p = 0.046		0.17
Financial Resources12.04 ± 2.6911.85 ± 2.92t(525) = 0.664,
p = 0.507		0.05
Social Support and Peers25.17 ± 3.7225.01 ± 4.16t(525) = 0.384,
p = 0.701		0.03
School Environment21.95 ± 4.5121.19 ± 4.52t(525) = 1.689,
p = 0.092		0.14
Social Acceptance13.30 ± 2.1413.16 ± 2.26t(525) = 0.623,
p = 0.534		0.05
Total HRQOL39.42 ± 4.7338.19 ± 6.13t(316.965) = 2.413,
p = 0.016		0.27
Perceived stress8.45 ± 2.389.11 ± 2.75t(525) = −2.503,
p = 0.013		0.21
Depression17.52 ± 3.0118.09 ± 3.34t(525) = −1.748,
p = 0.081		0.15
Table
Table 2. Differences in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression between breakfast eaters depending on breakfast quality.
Table 2. Differences in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression between breakfast eaters depending on breakfast quality.
Breakfast Eaters
n = 387
Breakfast QualityVery PoorPoorGoodDifferences between Groupsη2partial
n = 86n = 86n = 215
HRQOL
Physical Well-being15.22 ± 4.1616.95 ± 4.1719.36 ± 3.22F(2, 384) = 420.783,
p = 0.0001		0.182
Psychological Well-being19.23 ± 4.8122.74 ± 4.6625.06 ± 3.81F(2, 384) = 580.633,
p = 0.0001		0.234
Moods and Emotions21.50 ± 5.5726.17 ± 5.8328.62 ± 4.52F(2, 384) = 600.620,
p = 0.0001		0.240
Self-Perception17.95 ± 3.1318.91 ± 3.4620.05 ± 3.46F(2, 384) = 120.537,
p = 0.0001		0.061
Autonomy15.51 ± 4.5519.04 ± 4.2220.15 ± 3.65F(2, 384) = 410.454,
p = 0.0001		0.178
Parent Relations and Home Life20.03 ± 4.8424.36 ± 5.1326.18 ± 3.74F(2, 384) = 610.496,
p = 0.0001		0.243
Financial Resources10.41 ± 3.2911.98 ± 2.8212.37 ± 2.61F(2, 384) = 140.890,
p = 0.0001		0.072
Social Support and Peers22.45 ± 4.8724.87 ± 4.4626.10 ± 3.17F(2, 384) = 260.780,
p = 0.0001		0.122
School Environment18.44 ± 4.4720.56 ± 4.4522.54 ± 4.01F(2, 384) = 300.332,
p = 0.0001		0.136
Social Acceptance12.30 ± 2.7913.23 ± 213.16 ± 2.26F(2, 384) = 80.672,
p = 0.0001		0.043
Total HRQOL31.60 ± 5.5337.75 ± 5.6141 ± 4.21F(2, 384) = 1150.234,
p = 0.0001		0.375
Perceived stress12.01 ± 2.379.24 ± 2.567.90 ± 1.98F(2, 384) = 105.915,
p = 0.0001		0.356
Depression21.37 ± 2.4018.41 ± 3.1316.64 ± 2.74F(2, 384) = 90.666,
p = 0.0001		0.321
Table
Table 3. Differences between breakfast skippers, eaters of very poor quality breakfasts and eaters of poor quality breakfasts in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression.
Table 3. Differences between breakfast skippers, eaters of very poor quality breakfasts and eaters of poor quality breakfasts in HRQOL, perceived stress and depression.
Eaters of very Poor Quality BreakfastsEaters of Poor Quality BreakfastsBreakfast SkippersDifferences between Groupsη2partial
n = 86n = 86n = 140
HRQOL
Physical Well-being15.22 ± 4.1616.95 ± 4.1718.47 ± 3.43F(2, 309) = 190.081,
p = 0.0001		0.110
Psychological Well-being19.23 ± 4.8122.74 ± 4.6623.55 ± 4.70F(2, 309) = 230.205,
p = 0.0001		0.131
Moods and Emotions21.50 ± 5.5726.17 ± 5.8327.63 ± 5.72F(2, 309) = 310.444,
p = 0.0001		0.169
Self-Perception17.95 ± 3.1318.91 ± 3.4619.92 ± 3.49F(2, 309) = 90.227,
p = 0.0001		0.056
Autonomy15.51 ± 4.5519.04 ± 4.2219.38 ± 3.76F(2, 309) = 250.909,
p = 0.0001		0.144
Parent Relations and Home Life20.03 ± 4.8424.36 ± 5.1325.37 ± 4.55F(2, 309) = 340.302,
p = 0.0001		0.182
Financial Resources10.41 ± 3.2911.98 ± 2.8212.04 ± 2.69F(2, 309) = 90.485,
p = 0.0001		0.058
Social Support and Peers22.45 ± 4.8724.87 ± 4.4625.17 ± 3.72F(2, 309) = 110.688,
p = 0.0001		0.070
School Environment18.44 ± 4.4720.56 ± 4.4521.95 ± 4.51F(2, 309) = 160.276,
p = 0.0001		0.095
Social Acceptance12.30 ± 2.7913.23 ± 213.30 ± 2.14F(2, 309) = 50.531,
p = 0.004		0.035
Total HRQOL31.60 ± 5.5337.75 ± 5.6139.42 ± 4.73F(2, 309) = 610.801,
p = 0.0001		0.286
Perceived stress12.01 ± 2.379.24 ± 2.568.45 ± 2.38F(2, 309) = 58.585,
p = 0.0001		0.275
Depression21.37 ± 2.4018.41 ± 3.1317.52 ± 3.01F(2, 309) = 48.204,
p = 0.0001		0.238

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ferrer-Cascales, R.; Sánchez-SanSegundo, M.; Ruiz-Robledillo, N.; Albaladejo-Blázquez, N.; Laguna-Pérez, A.; Zaragoza-Martí, A. Eat or Skip Breakfast? The Important Role of Breakfast Quality for Health-Related Quality of Life, Stress and Depression in Spanish Adolescents. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 1781. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph15081781

AMA Style

Ferrer-Cascales R, Sánchez-SanSegundo M, Ruiz-Robledillo N, Albaladejo-Blázquez N, Laguna-Pérez A, Zaragoza-Martí A. Eat or Skip Breakfast? The Important Role of Breakfast Quality for Health-Related Quality of Life, Stress and Depression in Spanish Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15(8):1781. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph15081781

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ferrer-Cascales, Rosario, Miriam Sánchez-SanSegundo, Nicolás Ruiz-Robledillo, Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez, Ana Laguna-Pérez, and Ana Zaragoza-Martí. 2018. "Eat or Skip Breakfast? The Important Role of Breakfast Quality for Health-Related Quality of Life, Stress and Depression in Spanish Adolescents" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 8: 1781. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph15081781

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop