A study of the relationship between dietary habits and mental health among young adults aged 18 years old in Sungai Buloh Vocational College

Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and stress, are becoming more common among young adults, and dietary habits have been linked as a significant factor. However, researchers have not extensively studied the connection between dietary habits and mental health among young adults, especially those in vocational institutions. Therefore, this study aims to assess the dietary habits and mental health status of young adults aged 18 at Sungai Buloh Vocational College and to explore the relationship between dietary habits and mental health. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 205 participants selected through purposive sampling. A self- administered questionnaire with 22 items on dietary habits, paired with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), was used to gather data. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test in SPSS version 29.0. The results showed that 64.4% of participants practiced good dietary habits, with a mean score of 16.1 ± 1.9; however, high consumption of fried foods and frequent breakfast skipping were also noted. Regarding mental health, most participants were within normal ranges for all categories of depression (53.2%), anxiety (42.9%), and stress (66.8%). These findings suggest a relationship between dietary habits and depression (χ² = 12.51, p = 0.014, Cramér’s V = 0.25), anxiety (χ² = 19.30, p = 0.001, Cramér’s V = 0.31), and stress (χ² = 13.40, p = 0.009, Cramér’s V = 0.26). In conclusion, maintaining healthy dietary habits may promote better mental health and overall well-being during this critical life stage.