Alcohol, Diet, Mental Distress, and Resilience

Authors: Isabella Schneider, Chloe Martinetti, Alyssa Pierro, Hailey Roberts, Zachary Inman

Field of Study: Health and Wellness

Program Affiliation: Health and Wellness Studies

Faculty Mentors: Lina Begdache

Easel: 48

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between habits surrounding alcohol use, diet quality, mental distress and resilience. An anonymous online survey was administered through Google Forms and was disseminated through text messages and social media. The survey was conducted on primarily young adults and other adults in the New York area, and data was analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis in SPSS version 28.0. Our research found a strong positive correlation between high alcohol consumption and feelings of hopelessness (p < 0.01), as well as a positive correlation between a healthy diet and mental resilience (eg: fruit consumption [p < 0.05], beans [p < 0.05], and fish [p < 0.01]). Through this study, the hope is to identify connections between dietary practices and mental health, ultimately giving people the tools they need to promote an overall positive mental state.