Evaluation of the Association Between Mediterranean and Western Dietary Patterns and Social Interaction in Children Aged 7 to 13 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Haghighat_Lari, Mohammad Mehdi; Atoof, Fatemeh; Alvani, Seyed Reza; Taghizadeh, Mohsen; Milajerdi, Alireza

doi:10.48307/FMSJ.2025.29.3.277

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Volume 29, Issue 3 (Bimonthly 2025)

Feyz Med Sci J 2025, 29(3): 277-292

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Evaluation of the Association Between Mediterranean and Western Dietary Patterns and Social Interaction in Children Aged 7 to 13 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study

Mohammad Mehdi Haghighat_Lari

, Fatemeh Atoof

, Seyed Reza Alvani

, Mohsen Taghizadeh

, Alireza Milajerdi ^*

Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran , Amkhv@yahoo.com

Abstract: (322 Views)

Background and Aim: Social interaction plays a critical role in the cognitive and emotional development of children. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns may influence social behaviors. This study aimed to assess the association between predominant dietary patterns and social interaction levels in children aged 7 to 13 years in Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 313 children were selected through stratified random sampling from healthcare centers in Kashan, Iran. Dietary patterns were assessed using a 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and predominant dietary patterns were identified through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Social interaction levels were evaluated using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), with higher scores indicating poorer social interaction. Linear regression models, adjusted for confounding factors, were used to examine the association between dietary patterns and social interaction scores.
Results: Four predominant dietary patterns were identified: Mediterranean-like, Western, high-fat and high-sugar, and low-fat and high-sugar. Greater adherence to the Mediterranean-like (β = -0.31, P < 0.001) and low-fat and high-sugar (β = -0.37, P < 0.001) dietary patterns was associated with better social interaction performance. Conversely, higher adherence to the Western (β = 0.15, P = 0.009) and high-fat and high-sugar (β = 0.22, P < 0.001) dietary patterns was associated with poorer social interaction.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential role of dietary patterns in enhancing or impairing social interaction in children. Healthier dietary patterns, such as Mediterranean-like and low-fat and high-sugar diets, may contribute to improved social development in children. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Dietary Patterns, Social Interaction, Mediterranean Diet, Western Diet, Children

Full-Text [PDF 621 kb] (77 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/04/22 | Revised: 2025/08/25 | Accepted: 2025/07/20 | Published: 2025/08/17

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Haghighat_Lari M M, Atoof F, Alvani S R, Taghizadeh M, Milajerdi A. Evaluation of the Association Between Mediterranean and Western Dietary Patterns and Social Interaction in Children Aged 7 to 13 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study. Feyz Med Sci J 2025; 29 (3) :277-292
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