Association between nutritional intake and aggressive behaviors in children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-IV study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kelishadi, Roya^a | Qorbani, Mostafa^{b; c} | Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil^d | Heshmat, Ramin^c | Ardalan, Gelayol^a | Bahreynian, Maryam^{e; f; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran | [b] Department of Epidemiology, Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran | [c] Department of Epidemiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [d] Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran | [e] Department of Nutrition, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran | [f] Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Maryam Bahreynian, Department of Nutrition, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar jarib Ave, Isfahan, Iran and Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Tel.: +98 31 37925214, Fax: +98 31 37925280; E-mails: bahreynian@yahoo.com; bahreynian@hlth.mui.ac.ir.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:This study aims to explore the association of nutritional intake and aggression among a nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS:This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted on a multi-stage sample of 14880 students, aged 6–18 years, living in 30 provinces in Iran. Parents were asked to report the dietary intake of their children as frequency of food groups and/or items. The validated questionnaire of the World Health Organization-Global School-based Health Survey (WHO-GSHS) was used to measure components related to aggression including physical fight, verbal aggression, and being bullied by other students. RESULTS: Participants consisted of 13486 students (90.6% participation rate) with mean age of 12.47 years (95% CI: 12.40, 12.54); 49.2% were girls, and 75.6% lived in urban areas. Physical fighting was more prevalent among urban boys[(48.63%), CI (46.75, 50.5)] while bulling was the most common aggressive behavior among boys [(29.7%), CI (28.03, 31.42)] and girls [(25.26%), CI (23.66, 26.93)] living in urban areas. Daily consumption of fast foods, sweets, soda, salty snacks and fried foods was higher among those participants who reported frequent experience of physical aggression and bullying. Bullying to others increased significantly with consumption of fast food (Odds ratio: 1.43, CI: 1.07, 1.92) and red meat (Odds ratio: 1.14, CI: 1.02, 1.28). Salty snack consumption showed a significant association with physical fighting (Odds ratio: 1.29, CI: 1.15, 1.44). CONCLUSION:The findings of this study suggest that some unhealthy foods might affect the mental health of children and adolescents. Improving dietary habits should be considered for prevention of violence in the vulnerable pediatric age group.

Keywords: Aggression, nutrition, children, adolescents

DOI: 10.3233/MNM-200405

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 25-36, 2021