Mindful eating and Chrono-Mediterranean diet adherence associated with lower gastrointestinal symptom burden in young adults

Abstract

Objectives – This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal symptom burden and Chrono-Mediterranean diet adherence and mindful eating in young adults. It also sought to explore the role of microbiota awareness in this relationship and identify factors associated with Chrono-Mediterranean diet adherence. Methods – This cross-sectional study involved 677 young adults and employed convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interactions using a personal information form, the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), the Bristol Stool Chart, the Chrono-Mediterranean Diet Score (CMDS), the Expanded Mindful Eating Scale (EMES), and the Microbiota Awareness Scale (MAS). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS (IBM, NY, USA) version 30.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results – Among the 677 respondents (mean age: 20.79 ± 2.34 years; 75.2% female), GSRS scores were negatively correlated with microbiota awareness (r = −0.182, p < 0.001) and the CMDS (r = −0.141, p < 0.001), but were not correlated with mindful eating. However, microbiota awareness was positively correlated with mindful eating (r = 0.092, p = 0.017) and the CMDS (r = 0.205, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, male sex, non-smoking, higher levels of mindful eating, and higher CMDS scores independently predicted a lower gastrointestinal symptom burden (R2 = 0.11, p < 0.001). Higher CMDS scores were independently predicted by physical activity, not smoking, not drinking, increased microbiota awareness, and higher levels of mindful eating, whereas obesity was identified as a negative predictor (R2 = 0.15, p < 0.001). Conclusion – Greater adherence to the Chrono-Mediterranean diet and higher levels of mindful eating were independently associated with lower gastrointestinal symptom burden in young adults. Although microbiota awareness was associated with symptom burden in univariate analyses, it was not an independent predictor after adjustment. These findings highlight the potential relevance of diet quality, meal timing-related dietary adherence, and eating-related awareness for gastrointestinal health in young adults.