Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Eating Disorders in Spanish Nurses with Shift Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Shift work has a significant influence on the mental health of workers. Nursing is characterised by a rotational work system. This study aimed to determine whether there was a link between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the risk of sufferin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Belén Leyva-Vela, Cristina Reche-García, Juan José Hernández-Morante, María Martínez-Olcina, Laura Miralles-Amorós, Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/6/576
Description
Summary:<i>Background and Objectives:</i> Shift work has a significant influence on the mental health of workers. Nursing is characterised by a rotational work system. This study aimed to determine whether there was a link between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the risk of suffering an eating disorder (ED) in nurses according to their work shift. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A total of 240 women (nurses and nursing assistants) were evaluated and completed the PREDIMED-PLUS questionnaire on adherence to the MD and the EAT-26 (Eating Attitude Test, 26 items). <i>Results:</i> The results indicate that there are no differences in adherence to the MD depending on the work shift, being that adherence to the diet is already low. Statistically significant differences appear depending on the work shift in the following dimensions: restrictive behaviours and bulimia subscales (presenting higher scores in the 7-h rotating shift versus the fixed morning shift or 12-h rotating shift) and for total EAT-26 score. <i>Conclusion:</i> Whilst they do not condition adherence to a MD, the nursing shifts that are the most changing in terms of time patterns may condition restrictive behaviours and compensatory risk behaviours related to an ED.
ISSN:1010-660X
1648-9144