Publication date: Jun 16, 2026
Following a Mediterranean-like diet has been associated with lower depression levels but there has been limited study of links with positive states of psychological well-being. We tested whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet was cross-sectionally associated with positive well-being among older adults in England in 2018/2019 and prospectively through the COVID-19 pandemic. Prospective observational cohort analysis. Population study of older people ≥50 years in England. 3296 participants (46% men) in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) aged 68. 18+/-7. 43 years, who completed a dietary module in 2018/2019 for the assessment of the Mediterranean diet (relative Mediterranean Diet Index (rMED)). Psychological well-being measured using the CASP12 at baseline (2018/2019) and again in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Cross-sectionally, higher rMED scores were associated with greater psychological well-being (β=0. 054, p
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Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | Long Covid |
| disease | MESH | Coronavirus Infections |