Abstract
The purpose of the present investigation is to determine how one′s nutritional status affects an unsettled state of mind, especially the impulsivity trait, in university students. Three hundred twenty-four university students completed a self-rating questionnaire. They were assessed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (11th version; BIS-11), and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II). Based on BDHQ scores, the participants were classified into three groups according to their nutrient intake: low-energy density nutrient intake, moderate-energy density nutrient intake, and high-energy density nutrient intake. A one-way analysis of variance revealed significantly higher BIS-11 scores in the case of low-energy protein intake and low dietary intake of the soy and soy food groups. The vitamin and mineral deficiencies influenced the impulsivity trait, and the n-6 fatty acid deficiency possibly led to an increase in the impulsivity level. The results suggest that an unbalanced nutritional status is a risk factor for a higher impulsiveness in university students.
