Dietary Plant Hormone and Mental Health

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this cross-sectional online study is to investigate the association between regular feeding behavior and stress, sleep as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms in healthy subjects.

Detailed Description
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The gut-microbiota-brain (GMB) axis has a multidirectional communication between the intestine, the microbiota, and the central nervous system (CNS). Over the past decade, there has been extensive research showing that the GMB axis has a profound influence not only on neurological disorders but also on neural development, activation of the neuroendocrine axis and neurotransmission, as well as modulation of complex human behaviors. Thus, the GBM-axis is involved in the regulation of stress, emotions, behaviour, and higher cognitive functions. As the GMB plays an essential role in human psychological functioning and mental health, the dietary manipulation of the microbiome may have direct effects on mental well-being, sleep, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Official Title
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Association Between Dietary Plant Hormone Intake and Mental Health

Conditions
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Stress, Dietary Behavior, Sleep, Depression, Anxiety

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Anonymous online survey on dietary habits and mental health


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 to 30 Exclusion Criteria: None

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Healthy subjects<br>Healthy subjects aged 18-30 years | Other: Anonymous online survey on dietary habits and mental health<br>* Assessment of regular feeding behavior and mental health<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of life | Subjective life-quality will be measured with the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF,). The WHOQOL-BREF is a self-administered questionnaire comprising 26 questions on the individual's perceptions of their health and well-being over the previous two weeks. Responses to questions are on a 1-5 Likert scale where 1 represents disagree or not at all and 5 represents completely agree or extremely. For the present study only the three subscales (physical and psychological health, and social relationships) will be assessed. | At baseline | 
| Depression | Overall depressive symptoms assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II; Beck, A., Steer, R., Brown, G., 1996). Each answer is scored on a scale value of 0-3. Measures of 0-9 indicates that a person is not depressed, 10-18 indicates mild-moderate depression, 19-29 indicates moderate-severe depression and 30-63 indicates severe depression. | At baseline | 
| Sleep | Sleep quality is assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; Buysse, D., Reynolds, C., Monk, T., Berman, S., Kupfer, D.,1989). Each of the sleep components yields a score ranging from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest dysfunction. The sleep component scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21 with the higher total score (referred to as global score) indicating worse sleep quality. | At baseline | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anxiety | Anxiety symptoms will be assessed with the validated German version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck and Steer 1988). A total score of 0 - 7 is interpreted as a Minimal level of anxiety; 8 - 15 as Mild; 16 - 25 as Moderate, and; 26 - 63 as Severe. | At baseline | 
| Stress and Coping | Stress will be assessed with the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI; Satow, 2012).The SCI is used to determine the current stress load and stress symptoms and to illustrate how to deal with stress using five coping strategies. It comprises 10 scales with 54 items: (A) Current stress load (1) Stress due to uncertainty, (2) Stress due to overload, (3) Stress due to loss and actual negative events, (4) Total stress: Total stress due to insecurity, threat, overload or loss in important areas of life, (5) Physical and psychological stress symptoms; (B) Stress coping (Coping) (1) Positive thinking, (2) Active stress coping, (3) Social support, (4) Keeping faith, (5) Increased alcohol and cigarette consumption. | At baseline |