{
  "abstract": "Objectives Following a Mediterranean-like diet has been associated with lower depression levels but there has been limited study of links with positive states of psychological well-being. We tested whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet was cross-sectionally associated with positive well-being among older adults in England in 2018/2019 and prospectively through the COVID-19 pandemic.Design Prospective observational cohort analysis.Setting Population study of older people ≥50 years in England.Participants 3296 participants (46% men) in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) aged 68.18±7.43 years, who completed a dietary module in 2018/2019 for the assessment of the Mediterranean diet (relative Mediterranean Diet Index (rMED)).Primary and secondary outcome measures Psychological well-being measured using the CASP12 at baseline (2018/2019) and again in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).Results Cross-sectionally, higher rMED scores were associated with greater psychological well-being (β=0.054, p<0.001), independent of depressive symptoms, income, education, physical activity, smoking, self-rated health and limiting long-standing illness. Longitudinal analyses revealed that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet predicted smaller declines in well-being during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (β=0.026, p=0.042), even after accounting for baseline well-being and COVID-19 infection experience.Conclusions Greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet was positively associated with psychological well-being among older adults in England. This relationship persisted even during a period of widespread societal stress. Promoting Mediterranean-style dietary patterns may support not only physical but also mental well-being in later life, underscoring the importance of nutritional public health strategies for mental health resilience in ageing populations.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Andrew Steptoe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK",
        "Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, London, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Alanna Jo Shand"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Environmental Health Over the Lifecourse Programme, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Camille Lassale"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and psychological wellbeing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing",
  "uid": "51a1f45c-e48a-554e-a0ee-13b32e800ba0"
}