Research Symposium

BIO

Hailey Mui is a senior at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. She is passionate about the intersection of mental and physical health, with a strong interest in how lifestyle factors such as diet and sleep impact overall well-being. Hailey currently works as a research assistant in the Integrative Science for Healthy Aging Program under Dr. Julia Sheffler, where she contributes to data collection and analysis focused on cognitive and physical health in older adults.

In addition to her research experience, Hailey is actively involved in service and leadership through MEDLIFE at FSU, where she helps coordinate global health initiatives and service-learning trips. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to improving healthcare access and promoting community wellness.

After graduating, Hailey plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in medicine, where she hopes to combine her interests in psychology, patient care, and preventative health.

Effect of Diet and Sleep Quality on Internalizing Symptoms ​

Abstract

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress are common mental health challenges in older adults and are influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet and sleep quality. Specifically, higher dietary omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins have been linked to fewer mental health symptoms, while poor sleep quality is associated with poorer mental health. This study expands on prior work by examining the direct and interactive effects of dietary components and sleep on mental health symptoms .

Methods: Baseline data was collected from 65 adults aged 58-81 years; B vitamin and omega-3 intake were collected through a 24-hour food recall interviews. Depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality were measured using the validated self-report measures (i.e., PHQ-9, Generalized Anxiety Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index). Using SPSS, linear regression models examined direct and interactive effects.

Results: Omega-3 and B vitamin intake were not associated with the proposed mental health symptoms; however, poorer sleep quality was independently and significantly associated with depression (β=.309, p=.003), anxiety (β=.392, p=.001), and stress (β= .738, p=.001). Sleep quality did not significantly moderate the relationship between either dietary factor and the proposed mental health symptoms (p’s>.05).

Conclusions: Our findings highlight that sleep quality is closely linked to mental health symptoms. The relationship between diet and mental health symptoms was not evident in our sample, which may suggest a weaker overall relationship or point to limitations in our study design. Further research is needed to explore these relationships longitudinally using larger samples and more comprehensive assessments of diet.

Keywords: Sleep quality, Diet