Restful sleep, healthy mind

NEW YORK (HealthDay News)—Good sleep may be key to a young adult's mental well-being, according to a new study.

Young adults who slept better were more likely to have healthier minds, according to results of studies conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, researchers said.

Eating more fruits and vegetables and exercising more frequently also appeared to contribute to a person's mental well-being, researchers reported in the August 27 issue of the journal PLOS One.

Furthermore, these "big three" lifestyle factors appear to be independent of each other, but also additive, the scientists found. In other words, the more a person pursues, the greater the positive impact on their mental well-being.

“This age group faces unique pressures, such as leaving home, financial stress, educational pressures, and social stressors, which can reduce happiness,” said lead researcher Tamlin Conner, a psychology professor at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

“Understanding which lifestyle factors support well-being can help young adults not just 'get by,' but thrive during this critical stage of life,” she said in a press release.

In the study, researchers analyzed data from three studies on psychological well-being involving nearly 2,100 adults between the ages of 17 and 25.

In the studies, better sleep was most strongly associated with better mental well-being, the results showed. Fruit and vegetable consumption ranked second, and physical activity third.

“Of these healthy habits, sleep quality stood out as the strongest and most consistent predictor of next-day well-being, but eating fruits and vegetables and being active also helped boost well-being,” Conner noted.

“Young adults don’t have to reach an objective health benchmark to see an improvement in well-being,” lead researcher Jack Cooper, formerly a researcher at the University of Otago, said in a press release. “Sleeping a little better, eating a little healthier, or exercising even 10 minutes longer than usual was associated with improvements in how they felt that day.”

However, the researchers noted that these were observational studies and, as such, cannot prove a direct causal link between healthy habits and improved well-being.

At a glance

Essential trio

Getting a good night's sleep, eating more fruits and vegetables, and exercising are three habits that contribute to mental well-being. Sometimes, one of these habits can cover up another, the researchers found. For example, a higher-than-average intake of fruits and vegetables could mitigate the effects of a poor night's sleep, and a good night's sleep could bolster a young adult against a lower intake of fruits and vegetables.