Research ArticleAbstract
It was envisaged to observe the effect of Dietary Habit on behaviour pattern of adolescent boys. In the present study 150 adolescent boys, in the age group of 12- 17 years, were selected though random sampling. All the subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dietary habits, each group consisting of 75 adolescent boys. Behavioural dimensions like problem solving ability and Adjustment were assessed by using L.N. Dubey’s Problem-Solving Ability Test, Ragini and Dubey’s Adolescent Adjustment Scale. The independent sample ‘t’ test was used for statistical evaluation of the effect of dietary habit on behavioural pattern. A significant change was noticed in problem solving ability at 0.01 level and rest another psychological parameter were not found significantly changed. But the mean value showed that vegetarian intake pattern does positively influence the adjustment ability.
Keywords: Vegetarian & Non-Vegetarian Diet; Problem Solving Ability and Adjustment and Adolescent
Introduction
Adolescence is considered as a nutritionally critical period
of life for several reasons. Firstly, manifold increase in physical
growth and development put greater pressure on the need for
nutrients. Secondly, adolescence can be the second opportunity
to catch up with growth, if nutrient intake is appropriate. Thirdly,
psychological changes and development of their own personality
exert impact on their dietary habits during the phase when they
are very prone to suggestions. All these changes create special
requirements for additional nutrition, thus making nutrition
a significant determinant of their health. Inadequate nutrition
also affects adolescent’s current health and put them at high risk
of chronic diseases as well, particularly if combined with other
adverse lifestyle behaviours [1]. Adolescents need good mental
health to experience normal emotional and mental development,
to develop their potential, to have fulfilling relationship with other
people and to deal with the challenges of everyday life.
The social approach to mental health focuses primarily on
behaviour and performance in various social roles. These consist
of estimate of the extent to which individuals follow and respond
to a community’s normative prescription and expectations of
appropriate behaviour in roles related to occupation and work,
social participation and family relations [2]. Behaviour is the study
of human actions by analyzing stimulus and response. The delicate
chemical balance to the brain is somewhat protected by blood brain
barrier, which restricts entry of certain chemicals to the brain via
blood. Nevertheless, the brain is highly susceptible to changes in
body chemistry resulting from nutrient intake and deficiency. The
brain receives, stores, and integrates sensory information and
intimates as well as controls motor responses. These functions
correspond to mental activities and form the basis of behaviour.
Thus, there appears a direct connection between nutrition, brain
function and behaviour.
Behaviour in its broad sense includes all types of human
activities like walking and speaking, cognitive activities such as
perceiving, remembering, thinking or reasoning and emotional
activities like feeling happy, sad, angry or afraid [3]. A good diet
is necessary in order to perform well but this is usually thought
of in physical terms only. The type and quality of food affects
the physical and mental conditions of the individual. Thus, the
individual who does not take a proper diet and who does not have
a proper understanding of the principles of eating gradually begins
to harm himself, both physically and mentally. He begins to feel the
ill effects of wrong eating pattern on his appearance, behaviour,
thought and also in action. It is estimated that the human body
requires somewhat 40 to 50 nutrients in all to function properly
[4]. There are many other substances that exist in food that may be
useful to or necessary for the human body, but little is known about
them. Adolescents have the highest prevalence of “Unsatisfactory”
nutritional status among all age groups.
Reflecting a commonly held belief a recent long-term study
has confirmed that adolescent behaviour and mental health may
have deteriorated significantly and measurably over the past 25
years [5]. A child who suffers from nutrient deficiencies exhibits
physical and behavioural symptoms. Deficiencies of protein
energy, vitamin A, iron and zinc plague children the world over.
Iron deficiency remains common in children and adolescents
despite iron fortification of foods and other programs to combat
this deficiency. A lack of iron not only causes an energy crisis but
also directly affects behaviour, mood, attention span, and learning
ability [6]. Diet can affect cognitive ability and behaviour in children
and adolescents. Nutrient composition and meal pattern can exert
immediate or long term, beneficial or adverse effects. Beneficial
effects mainly result from the correction of poor nutritional status.
One aspect of diet that has elicited much research on young people
is the intake/omission of breakfast. This has obvious relevance to
school performance.
While effects are inconsistent in well-nourished children,
breakfast omission deteriorates mental performance in malnourished
children. The literature suggest that good regular dietary
habits are the best way to ensure optional mental and behavioural
performance at all times. In contrast, children and adolescents with
poor nutritional status are exposed to alterations in mental and/
or behavioural functions that can be corrected, to a certain extent,
by dietary measures [7]. Thus, it seems that there is a direct link
between nutrition, brain function and behaviour. Nutrient composition
and meal pattern can exert immediate or long term beneficial
or adverse effects. Literature suggest that good regular dietary
habits are the best way to ensure optimum mental and behavioural
performance at all times. Therefore, it was proposed to study the inter-
relationship between the vegetarian & non- vegetarian dietary
habits and their various behavioural manifestations, like problem
solving ability and adjustment ability of adolescents.
Methodology
Sample Selection
Total 150 adolescent boys in the age group of 12-17 years were, selected through random sampling. They were from 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th standard of their study. Further, all subjects were pooled and then divided in to two groups on the basis of vegetarian and nonvegetarian dietary habits. Each group consists of 75 adolescent boys (Figure 1). The study was preceded with the selection of adolescent boys aged 12-17 years of age through deliberate stratified random sampling method from Mayo Boys College, Ajmer.
Figure 1.
Tools and Techniques
In the present study, dietary habits (Vegetarian and Non-
Vegetarian Diet) of adolescents were the independent variables,
whereas behavioural dimensions like problem solving ability and
adjustment ability were taken as dependent variables. Collection of
data was done by performing following psychological tests on both
vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent boys:
1) L.N. Dubey’s problem-solving ability test
2) Ragini Dubey’s adolescent adjustment scale
Procedure for Data Collection
Once the object and propose of the research was finalized the researcher started planning the process of collection of data by considering availability, approachability etc. With this view Mayo Boys College, Ajmer principal responded and finally granted permission. Once the school principal agreed in principle that the time and dates suggested by the researcher does not interfere with the conduct of school curriculum and calendar, liaison visits were done with the above school, where principal were given necessary presentation, logistic support expected, suitable dates that would not interfere with any school activity. Finally, the date was fixed and confirmed for the collection of data. On the appointed date and time actual tests were performed and scores were obtained for each test separately on every participant. After that the data were tabulated for statistical analysis and the independent sample ‘t’ test was used for statistical evaluation of the effect of dietary habit.
Results
This component contains the analyzed data comprising effect of dietary habits on problem solving ability and adjustment ability of vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent boys along with their interpretation. The mean score of problem-solving ability in vegetarian boys was observed to be 10.72 and the same in nonvegetarian boys was 8.61 with the standard deviation of ±3.17 and ±3.45 for the respective means. The difference between two mean values was statistically significant at p<0.01. The significant difference between the two means shows that dietary habits do influence the problem-solving abilities of adolescent boys (Table 1) (Figure 2). Contrary to that the mean scores of adjustment ability in vegetarian boys were recorded to be 43.95±2.259. Whereas the mean scores of abilities in non-vegetarian boys were calculated to be 43.56±2.145 (Table 1) (Figure 2). The differences, whatsoever, in inter variable mean scores were not significant in the variable of adjustment. One of the reasons for such insignificant differences was the higher values of standard deviation. This observation exhibits that the dietary habits do not influence much in case of adjustment ability. The scores of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian boys show that in spite of insignificant difference the adjustment level in vegetarian boys was at higher side in comparison to non-vegetarian counter parts.
Table 1: Effect of Dietary Habits on Adolescent Boys.
Figure 2: Impact of Dietary Habits and Behavioral Dimensions.
Discussion
The difference in mean values of two variables- problem
solving ability and adjustment ability, with statistical significance,
suggests that the vegetarian boys have better problem-solving
ability as compared to non-vegetarian. There are evidences that
vegetarianism affects not only mood, but also cognitive ability [8].
In a study Sigman et al. [9] found that children who had vegetarian
diet and were better nourished had higher composite score on
verbal comprehension test and the Raven’s matrices. A series of
studies, reported by Schoenthaler et al. [10], have widely been
quoted. These studies examined the effect of dietary patterns on
large number of non-vegetarians. The author claimed decrement
in problem solving ability, aggressive and hyperactive behaviour
which are contrary to our findings. Paul et al. [11] examined 6000
vegetarians and 5000 non-vegetarians in the United Kingdom using
cross sectional analysis. They found that physical and mental health
of vegetarians was comparatively better than non-vegetarians.
Traditionally, research into vegetarianism focused mainly
on potential nutritional deficiencies, but in recent years, the
pendulum has swung the other way, and studies are confirming
the health benefits of meat free eating. Nowadays, plant-based
eating is recognized as not only nutritionally sufficient but also
as a way to reduce the risk for many chronic illnesses [12]. The
American Dietetic Association weighed in with a position paper,
concluding that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets are
healthful, nationally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases” (American
Dietetic Association Report, 2009). But there are still not enough
data available to explain exactly how a vegetarian diet influences
long term health. Vegetarians tend to consume less saturated fat
and cholesterol and more vitamins C and E, dietary fiber, folic
acid, potassium, magnesium and selected phytochemicals such as
cartenoids and flavonoids. As a result, they are likely to have lower
total and LDL (bad) cholesteral, lower blood pressure, and lower
body mass index (BMI), all of which are the indicators of longevity
and a reduced risk for many chronic diseases [13].
There are two popularly held explanations for the primary form of depression and frustration which is brought in a neuro-chemical imbalance. One attributes the condition to a deficiency of serotonin, the other to inadequate norepinephrine. It was assumed that by increasing the level of these neurotransmitters thought to be due to increased dietary intake of their precursors mainly through vegetarian diet. Although the concentration of brain cell norepinephrine and dopamine do rise, concomitant with increased precursors (tyrosine) intake, the effect of tyrosine loading on behaviour alteration and mental capacities remains controversial [14]. It is not surprising that since the intake of large amount of acetylcholine precursors increases the neuronal concentration and release of the neurotransmitter and that leads to change in mental activities. There is a great deal of interest in the possible enhancement of cognitive ability, problem solving ability and memory through dietary precursor loading mainly by vegetarian diet. On the same line our findings also indicate that vegetarian diet does influence positively to problem solving ability of adolescent boys.
Similarly impact of dietary habits on adjustment ability amongst adolescent boys seems to be slightly tilted towards vegetarians. This conclusion is arrived by simple observation and comparison of the mean scores obtained for vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescent boys, which indicates that vegetarian adolescent boys have better adjustment ability than non- vegetarian boys. It gives an idea that non-vegetarian diet does influence the interpersonal relationship negative amongst adolescents’ boys. This may possibly because of high intake of the precursors of excitatory neurotransmitters through non vegetarian diet which is a well-established fact [15]. Prinz et al. [16] examined the diets of hyperactive and aggressive children and reported that most of them liked to have non-vegetarian food items. Rodriguej et al. [17] evaluated the indicators of anxiety and depression in subjects with different kinds of diets. They observed significant differences in anxiety and depression levels between two groups. More anxiety, frustration and depression were reported in non-vegetarians. In addition, diet analysis found more nutritional antioxidant levels in the vegetarian group in comparison with non- vegetarian group.
Our results are in the conformity of these findings. With physiological point of view, serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the brain particularly in the frontal lobe. Low serotonin in the brain is said to be important factor in treating depression. The body needs certain raw materials to make serotonin. One of these materials is the amino acids, of which quality comes from vegetarian diet. So, eating vegetarian food items optimizes serotonin production [18]. Herrick et al. [15] reported that non-vegetarian diet terminates the state of frustration and depression. Herrick also stated that non-vegetarian food substances, caffeine, nicotine, food coloring and preservatives over stimulate secretary glands, interfere with the processing of nutrients, weaken immune system and cause several other harmful effects which contribute to anxiety, depression, frustration and lack of adjustment capacity. Such findings support the trends of the findings of present study. Geary et al. [19-21] observed that food can affect our mental capacity and what we choose to put into our mouth can influence our state of mind. Our findings indicate when we compare the problem-solving ability of vegetarian and non-vegetarian adolescents, vegetarian were at strong side, probably because of higher level of mental state. It may be inferred from the results that behavioural dimensions like problem solving ability and adjustment ability in adolescent boys is positively influenced more in vegetarian boys than in non-vegetarian boys and thus it may be concluded that vegetarian diet promotes the problem- solving ability and adjustment ability in adolescent boys.
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