Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/2615504090
Zeke Bierman
Zeke Bierman is a freshman at Wesleyan University majoring in Sociology and Art History. Zeke is from Los Angeles, California. Zeke selected his topic about mental health’s association to eating habits because of his interest in the stigma around diet culture, especially growing up in a place where it is extremely relevant. In his free time, Zeke likes to dance, read, write, and spend time with friends.
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between plant-based food consumption and self-reported mental health among adolescents in the United States. Drawing on data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES), the analysis investigates whether the frequency of fruit, vegetable, and green salad intake is associated with how often students report their mental health as “not good.” Prior research suggests a link between overall diet quality and depression, but fewer studies focus on specific dietary behaviors and broader measures of psychological distress. Using self-reported measures of dietary frequency over the past week and mental health over the past 30 days, this study aims to clarify whether higher consumption of plant-based foods corresponds with better mental well-being. It is hypothesized that lower intake of fruits and vegetables will be associated with more frequent reports of poor mental health.
QAC-poster-Zeke-Bierman