Associations of night eating with depressive symptoms among health sciences students living in a postconflict region

• Published in: Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic Vol. 88; no. 1; p. 29
• Main Authors: Aleksic, Vojkan, Gazibara, Tatjana, Jeremic, Biljana, Gasic, Sanja, Dotlic, Jelena, Stevanovic, Jasmina, Arsovic, Aleksandra, Milic, Marija
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2024
• Subjects: night eating; students; depression; post-conflict
• ISSN: 1943-2828
• DOI: 10.1521/bumc.2024.88.1.29

Populations affected by war may experience food insecurity, which could predispose them to eating disorders. A cross-sectional study was conducted among health sciences students in Northern Kosovo from November 2018 to March 2019. Data were collected using the sociodemographic Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The study sample comprised 534 students. The prevalence of students who had at least mild depression (BDI ≥ 10) was 20.6%. More frequent night eating was consistently associated with a higher EDI score in the total sample as well as in the subgroup of students whose EDI score was ≥ 10. In addition, having poorer sleep quality and having more anxiety symptoms were associated with having stronger depressive symptoms. In a population of health sciences students who live in a post-conflict region, night eating is associated with having stronger depressive symptoms.