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The moderating role of recreational substance use in the association of Mediterranean diet with academic performance among adolescents

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-12-15, 15:26 authored by Jose Francisco Lopez-Gil, Lee Smith, Anelise Reis Gaya, Desiree Victoria-Montesinos, Hector Gutiérrez-Espinoza, Eva Herrera-Gutiérrez, Antonio García-Hermoso

No study has examined the potential moderating role of recreational substance use in the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and academic performance. The aim of this study was to test the potential moderating role of recreational substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) in the association of adherence to the MedDiet with academic performance among adolescents. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 757 adolescents (55.6% girls) aged 12–17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia). The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Teenagers (KIDMED). Recreational substance use (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis) was self-reported by adolescents. Academic performance was assessed by the school records at the end of the academic year. The relationship between adherence to the MedDiet and academic performance was moderated by both tobacco and alcohol use (for grade point average and all school records). In conclusion, higher adherence to the MedDiet was related to greater academic performance in adolescents, but recreational substance use could moderate this association.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

13

Issue number

1

Number of pages

9

Publication title

Scientific Reports

ISSN

2045-2322

Publisher

Nature Portfolio

Location

England

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Item sub-type

Journal Article

Media of output

Electronic

Affiliated with

  • School of Psychology and Sport Science Outputs