Dados do Trabalho

Título

Relation between mealtime, sleep quality and anxiety level in undergraduate students in São Paulo

Introdução

Food intake later at night has been correlated with negative effects on sleep quality in humans. As the duration and quality of sleep are significant determinants of the mental health, we tested the hypothesis that students with better sleep quality and low anxiety have an earlier meal compared to those with poor sleep quality and high anxiety levels.

Objetivo

To verify the association of the time of the main meal and the last meal with sleep quality and anxiety levels in undergraduate students. A secondary aim was to verify the association of meal times with chronotype.

Métodos

A cross-sectional study, carried out using online forms was conducted at a private and a public college in São Paulo. The following questionnaires were used: MEQ, PSQI and Trait-State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE). To analyze the correlations between the results of the questionnaires and meal times, Spearman's linear correlation coefficient was used. For the other analyses, the chi-square test was performed.

Resultados

162 students participated in the study. The morning chronotypes had dinner and lunch earlier than evening chronotypes and also scored lower for trait anxiety than evening chronotypes students. In addition, morning chronotypes practice physical activity more frequently than other chronotype. Those who considered breakfast as their main meal woke up earlier than those who considered lunch. Students who ate more late night showed higher trait anxiety scores and slept later than those who ate early, and sleeping later was also associated with trait anxiety and worse sleep quality. Younger students were more anxious than older students. No associations were found between time of last meal and sleep quality, but was found that with increasing BMI, there is worse sleep quality.

Conclusões

Individuals who have meals later usually are evening chronotypes, tend to be more anxious and start sleeping later, and those who slept later had a poor sleep quality, which was related to increased BMI.

Palavras -chave

Chrononutrition; Sleep Quality; Anxiety and Students.