Mediterranean lifestyle, wine, emotions, and well-being
Numerous studies have already shown that a Mediterranean lifestyle is beneficial to health. But what about emotional well-being and life satisfaction?
A Spanish research team has now investigated this question. While earlier studies had mostly only collected general psychosocial parameters, the current cross-sectional study surveyed around 2,700 mainland Spanish individuals living in larger cities about a variety of individual emotions and states of mind and related these parameters to adherence to Mediterranean eating and drinking patterns.
Using anonymous digital questionnaires, the participants provided information on emotions such as anger, joy, sadness, and surprise. In the area of lifestyle and well-being, they were asked about their Mediterranean diet and weekly consumption of wine and beer, as well as areas such as work, income, social life, health, leisure time, use of time, and general life satisfaction.
A score was then used to classify adherence to the Mediterranean diet as low, medium, or high and to correlate these scores with the psychosocial responses. The results showed that medium to high adherence (compared to low adherence) was associated with more frequent feelings of joy and surprise. Conversely, individuals with medium or high Mediterranean adherence reported less often feeling annoyed, disgusted, sad, or anxious. They spent more hours exercising and preparing meals, showed greater life satisfaction, and reported higher levels of happiness.
Wine consumption: healthier lifestyle, greater happiness
It can be concluded that better adherence to Mediterranean eating and drinking patterns is associated with more favourable emotional profiles and greater well-being. The researchers also looked for differences between wine and beer drinkers. While both groups reported more frequent social gatherings, social satisfaction, and happiness, wine drinkers showed a healthier lifestyle: for example, they reported eating more vegetables and fish and exercising more. They also experienced less anxiety and anger.
The authors believe it is possible that the Mediterranean diet, including moderate wine consumption, also contributes to psychosocial well-being via the gut-brain axis. Ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish and seafood, as well as polyphenols from vegetables, fruits, olive oil, nuts, and wine, are possible mediators for this.
Careful interpretation is important!
Cross-sectional studies such as this one provide snapshots, i.e., they show the current state. They do not allow conclusions to be drawn about cause and effect or about changes over time. The authors of this study also point this out and advise against misinterpreting their results: Yes, those who consumed a Mediterranean diet had a more favourable emotional profile and greater subjective well-being. Wine drinkers also had more favourable emotions than beer drinkers in some cases, a healthier lifestyle overall, and greater happiness. However, further studies are needed to determine whether wine is the cause of this, i.e., whether there are causal relationships. Until then, recommendations to the public should emphasize an overall healthy Mediterranean lifestyle.
