Emerging Adulthood, Food, and Mood

Through this dissertation, I seek to provide a holistic view of the relationships between diet and symptoms of anxiety and depression among emerging adults through three complementary approaches: (a) an integrative review of the literature, (b) a phenomenological research study, and (c) a new conceptual model of health promotion to foster self-management of anxiety and depressive symptoms among emerging adults. First, I present an integrative review of the current literature regarding the relationship between dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and symptoms of anxiety and depression among emerging adults guided by Garrard’s Matrix Method. Evaluation of 20 quantitative studies showed that an anti-inflammatory diet, including a minimum intake of five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, may improve mental health among emerging adults. Second, a qualitative study was conducted using existential phenomenological methods to understand the meaning of the lived experiences of emerging adults with symptoms of anxiety and depression adopting a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet. Interviews with 11 emerging adults were analyzed, uncovering the essence of the phenomenon Experiencing Transformation: An “Internal Calling.” The context of transformation was the experience of Going Against the Grain of Society. Six figural themes were identified: (a) Embracing Food as Medicine: “Healthy from the inside out,” (b) Benefiting from a Holistic Approach: “Feeding your body is feeding your soul and is feeding your mind,” (c) Adopting a Lifestyle Change and Its Evolution Over Time: “Getting older and realizing what you need,” (d) Finding time for “The Joy of Cooking,” versus Time Constraints, (e) Fostering Community: The “Community-Building Power of Food,” and (f) Following the call: “I’m motivated by my moral compass.” Finally, a new conceptual model of self-management of symptoms of anxiety and depression is described. Why emerging adults adopt a WFPB diet, and their experiences are multifaceted. Understanding these facets will help support nurses and nurse practitioners to provide effective health promotion.