Dietary Plant Hormone and Mental Health

Association Between Dietary Plant Hormone Intake and Mental Health

The aim of this cross-sectional online study is to investigate the association between regular feeding behavior and stress, sleep as well as anxiety and depressive symptoms in healthy subjects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress; Sleep; Depression, Anxiety; Dietary Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Anonymous online survey on dietary habits and mental health

Detailed Description

The gut-microbiota-brain (GMB) axis has a multidirectional communication between the intestine, the microbiota, and the central nervous system (CNS). Over the past decade, there has been extensive research showing that the GMB axis has a profound influence not only on neurological disorders but also on neural development, activation of the neuroendocrine axis and neurotransmission, as well as modulation of complex human behaviors. Thus, the GBM-axis is involved in the regulation of stress, emotions, behaviour, and higher cognitive functions. As the GMB plays an essential role in human psychological functioning and mental health, the dietary manipulation of the microbiome may have direct effects on mental well-being, sleep, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 538

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Bern, Switzerland, 3000
    • University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy subjects

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 to 30

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Healthy subjects; Healthy subjects aged 18-30 years	Other: Anonymous online survey on dietary habits and mental health; Assessment of regular feeding behavior and mental health

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mental well-being and quality of life	Subjective life-quality will be measured with the short version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF,). The WHOQOL-BREF is a self-administered questionnaire comprising 26 questions on the individual's perceptions of their health and well-being over the previous two weeks. Responses to questions are on a 1-5 Likert scale where 1 represents "disagree" or "not at all" and 5 represents "completely agree" or "extremely". For the present study only the three subscales (physical and psychological health, and social relationships) will be assessed.	At baseline
General Psychopathology	Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL former BSI), including various subscales such as depression, anxiety	At baseline
Sleep	Sleep quality is assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Each of the sleep components yields a score ranging from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the greatest dysfunction. The sleep component scores are summed to yield a total score ranging from 0 to 21 with the higher total score (referred to as global score) indicating worse sleep quality.	At baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stress and Coping	Stress will be assessed with the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI).The SCI is used to determine the current stress load and stress symptoms and to illustrate how to deal with stress using five coping strategies. It comprises 10 scales with 54 items: (A) Current stress load (1) Stress due to uncertainty, (2) Stress due to overload, (3) Stress due to loss and actual negative events, (4) Total stress: Total stress due to insecurity, threat, overload or loss in important areas of life, (5) Physical and psychological stress symptoms; (B) Stress coping (Coping) (1) Positive thinking, (2) Active stress coping, (3) Social support, (4) Keeping faith, (5) Increased alcohol and cigarette consumption.	At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Bern
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Leila M Soravia, Prof. Dr., University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Bern

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 2, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 18, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Depression
• Other Study ID Numbers: ABA2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No