# Association between soy product consumption, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms among Tibetan college students: a cross-sectional study in high-altitude regions of China

## TL;DR

This study explores how soy product consumption and physical exercise are linked to psychological symptoms in Tibetan college students living in high-altitude regions of China.

## Contribution

The study is among the first to investigate the combined effects of soy product consumption and physical exercise on psychological symptoms in Tibetan college students.

## Key findings

- Higher soy product consumption and longer physical exercise duration are associated with lower prevalence of psychological symptoms.
- Students consuming soy products ≥5 times/day and exercising >60 min/day had the lowest risk of depressive symptoms.
- Psychological symptoms were more prevalent in girls compared to boys in the study population.

## Abstract

The prevalence of psychological symptoms among college students continues to rise, becoming a significant public health issue worldwide. The occurrence of psychological symptoms is closely associated with dietary behaviors and physical exercise. However, few studies have examined the association between soy product consumption, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms among Tibetan college students in high-altitude regions.

This study employed stratified cluster sampling to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on soy product consumption, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms among 7,070 Tibetan college students aged 19–22 in China’s high-altitude regions. Associations among these variables were analyzed using univariate analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, and generalized linear model-based binary logistic regression analysis.

Among Tibetan college students in China’s high-altitude regions, the proportions consuming soy products consumption ≤2 times/day, 3–5 times/day, and ≥5 times/day were 38.7, 40.2, and 21.1%, respectively. Duration of physical exercise was <30 min/day, 30–60 min/day, and >60 min/day in 74.2, 17.9, and 8.0% of participants, respectively. The prevalence of psychological symptoms among Tibetan college students in China’s high-altitude regions was 16.6%. The prevalence of psychological symptoms was lower among boys (14.6%) than girls (18.2%), with a statistically significant difference (χ2 = 16.622, p < 0.001). Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis using generalized linear models showed that, with the group consuming soy products consumption ≥5 times/day and duration of physical exercise >60 min/day as the reference group, the group with soy product consumption ≤2 times/day and duration of physical exercise <30 min/day had the highest risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 4.32, 95% CI: 2.49–7.51) (p < 0.001).

There is an association between soy product consumption, duration of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms among Tibetan college students in China’s high-altitude regions. Those with a higher frequency of soy product consumption and longer duration of physical exercise exhibit lower prevalence of psychological symptoms. Future prevention and intervention strategies for psychological symptoms should incorporate soy product consumption and duration of physical exercise as factors to better promote the mental health development of Tibetan college students.