Table 4.
Summary of results from studies assessing the effect of malnutrition on mental health and behaviour
| Study (quality) (outcome age) Country |
Behavioural problems (tool) |
Self-esteem (tool) |
Social-related disability (tool) |
Quality of life (tool) |
Personality (tool) |
Attention (tool) |
Morale (tool) |
| Chen et al 2021 (++) (childhood) China18 |
No effect (adjusted) (SDQ) |
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| Mwene-Batu et al 2020 (+) (adulthood) DRC19 |
Effect (unadjusted) (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) |
No effect (unadjusted) (WHODAS) |
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| Abessa et al 2017 (++) (childhood) Ethiopia24 |
Effect (adjusted) (ASQ:SE) |
||||||
| De Grandis et al 2014 (-) (childhood) Argentina26 |
Effect (unadjusted) (Paediatric quality of life inventory) |
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| Baker-Henningham et al 2009 (++) (childhood) Bangladesh31 |
Effect (adjusted) (Wachs temperament questionnaire) |
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| Liu et al 2004 (+) (childhood, adolescence) Mauritius33 |
Effect (adjusted) (Child Behaviour Checklist) |
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| Barbados Nutrition Study | |||||||
| Hock et al 2018* (+) (adulthood) Barbados39 |
Mixed (adjusted) [SCID-II-PQ, NEO PI-R FFM] |
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| Waber (2) et al 2014* (++) (adulthood) Barbados41 |
Effect (adjusted) (Behavioural regulation index) |
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| Galler et al 2013* (+) (adulthood) Barbados42 |
Effect (adjusted) (NEO-PI-R) |
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| Galler (1) et al 2012* (+) (adulthood) Barbados43 |
Mixed (adjusted) (CAARS, CPT) |
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| Galler (2) et al 2012* (+) (adolescence) Barbados44 |
No effect (adjusted) (Conduct: CBQ, Teacher behaviour questionnaire) |
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| Waber et al 2011* (+) (adolescence) Barbados45 |
No effect (adjusted) (Attention: CBQ) |
No effect (adjusted) (Minnesota Adjustment and Morale Scale) |
|||||
| Galler et al 2011* (++) (adolescence) Barbados46 |
Effect (adjusted) (BCBS) |
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| Galler et al 2010* (++) (adolescence) Barbados47 |
Effect (adjusted) (Minnesota Adjustment and Morale Scale) |
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Effect (marked in green)—statistically significant difference in mental health/behaviour between cases and controls.
No effect (marked in red)—no difference, or statistically insignificant difference, or statistically insignificant difference after adjusting for confounding variables, in mental health/behaviour between cases and controls.
Mixed (marked in blue)-mixture of results in the same paper showing statistically significant differences of certain outcome measurements but not other
Adjusted—results adjusted for confounding variables.
Unadjusted—results unadjusted for confounding variables.
++=high quality.
+=adequate quality.
-=poor quality.
*Studies are drawn from the same Barbados Nutrition Study.
ASQ-SE, Ages and Stages Questionnaire Socio Emotional; Attention-domain, Conners-ADHD-Rating-Scales; BCBS, Barbados Child Behaviour Scale; CAARS, Attention-domain: Conners-ADHD-Rating-Scales; CBQ, Child Behaviour Questionnaire; CPT, Conners-Continuous-Performance Test; NEO PI-R, NEO Personality Inventory-Revised; NEO PI-R FFM, NEO Personality Inventory-Revised derived Five-Factor Model; SCID-II-PQ, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders Personality Questionnaire; SDQ, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; WHODAS, WHO Disability Assessment Schedule.