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The Association of Mediterranean and Western Dietary Patterns on Social Communication in 7-13-Year-Old Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari    , Fatemeh Atoof , Seyed Reza Alvani , Mohsen Taghizadeh , Alireza Milajerdi * |
| , Amkhv@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (163 Views) |
Background: Social interaction plays a crucial role in children's cognitive and emotional development. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns may influence social behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between predominant dietary patterns and social interaction levels among 7-13-year-old children in Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 313 children were selected through stratified random sampling from healthcare centers in Kashan. Dietary patterns were assessed using a 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), with principal component analysis (PCA) used to identify predominant dietary patterns. Social interaction was measured using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), where higher scores indicated greater social interaction impairment. Linear regression models adjusted for confounding factors were employed to examine the association between dietary patterns and social interaction scores.
Results: Four predominant dietary patterns were identified: Mediterranean-like, Western, High-Fat & Sweet, and Low-Fat & Sweet. Greater adherence to the Mediterranean-like (β= -0.31, p<0.001) and Low-Fat & Sweet (β= -0.37, p<0.001) patterns was associated with better social interaction. Conversely, greater adherence to the Western (β= 0.15, p=0.009) and High-Fat & Sweet (β= 0.22, p<0.001) patterns was associated with poorer social interaction.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that dietary patterns may influence children's social interaction. Healthier dietary patterns may contribute to improved social development in children. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings. |
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| Keywords: Dietary patterns, Social communication, Mediterranean diet, Western diet, Children |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/04/22 | Revised: 2025/08/10 | Accepted: 2025/07/20
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