AI Insight
This cross-sectional study of 45,404 Chinese adolescents aged 12-17 found that infrequent breakfast consumption and dissatisfaction with community space environment are independently and jointly associated with increased psychological symptoms. Adolescents who ate breakfast less than once per week had 2.41 times higher risk of psychological symptoms compared to those eating breakfast at least 4 times weekly, while those dissatisfied with their community environment had 1.71 times higher risk. The overall prevalence of psychological symptoms among participants was 21.2%, with emotional problems at 27.6%, behavioral problems at 26.6%, and social adjustment problems at 17.5%.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that promoting regular breakfast consumption and improving community space environments could be practical public health interventions to support adolescent mental health in China. These modifiable factors may offer accessible entry points for reducing the burden of psychological symptoms in this population.
Understand the Science
BackgroundMental disorders among adolescents are a key global public health issue. This study aims to investigate the association between breakfast frequency and the community’s space environment to promote the mental health of adolescents in China.MethodsThis study employed a stratified random cluster sampling method in 2025; a total of 45,404 adolescents aged 12–17 were recruited from six regions in China. The researchers assessed the participants‘ breakfast frequency, the space environment of their neighborhoods, and their psychological symptoms. Using methods such as t-tests, chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and binary logistic regression with interaction terms, we examined the joint association between adolescents’ breakfast frequency, the spatial environment of their communities, and psychological symptoms.ResultsThe prevalence rates of emotional, behavioral, and social adjustment problems among Chinese adolescents are 27.6%, 26.6%, and 17.5%. The overall prevalence of psychological symptoms was 21.2%. Those who eat breakfast <1 time/week have a 2.41-fold higher risk of psychological symptoms than those who eat breakfast ≥4 times/week. Those who are dissatisfied with their community space environment are 1.71 times more likely to be at risk than those who are satisfied. Those who eat breakfast <1 time/week and are dissatisfied with their environment have the highest risk of psychological symptoms.ConclusionAmong Chinese adolescents, the less frequently they eat breakfast and the lower their satisfaction with their community space environment, the more severe their psychological symptoms are. regular breakfast consumption and improved community's space environment may be important public health strategies associated with lower levels of psychological symptoms among adolescents.