Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a public health concern and may be associated with health-related behaviors, including dietary habits. The Mediterranean diet is a well-established dietary pattern with recognized health benefits, yet adherence has declined in Mediterranean populations. This study examined the association between loneliness, social participation, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among adults in Greece.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2026 involving 288 adults in Greece recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed a structured anonymous questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related, and lifestyle characteristics, the UCLA loneliness scale version 3, and the MEDAS-GR questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, correlation tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.
The mean age of participants was 35.5 years (SD = 12.1), and 76.7% were women. Most participants lived in urban areas (76.0%) and were employed full-time (73.5%). The mean loneliness score was 2.1 (SD = 0.5) on a 1–4 scale, while the mean Mediterranean diet adherence score was 6.6 (SD = 2.0) out of 14. Loneliness was negatively correlated with Mediterranean diet adherence (r = −0.202, p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, older age (b = 0.037, 95% CI: 0.017 to 0.056, p < 0.001), place of residence (b = −0.552, 95% CI: −0.975 to −0.129, p = 0.011), home meal preparation (b = −0.858, 95% CI: −1.368 to −0.348, p = 0.001), and systematic social participation (b = 0.665, 95% CI: 0.394 to 0.936, p < 0.001) were independently associated with Mediterranean diet adherence. Systematic social participation was also independently associated with lower loneliness (b = −0.356, 95% CI: −0.308 to −0.165, p < 0.001).
Among adults in Greece, Mediterranean diet adherence was moderate and loneliness was low to moderate. Social participation emerged as a key correlate of both lower loneliness and higher Mediterranean diet adherence, suggesting that public health strategies promoting healthy dietary behaviors may benefit from incorporating social and community-based components.
Citation: Theodoros Pesiridis, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Eleftheria Kotsi, Paraskevi Apostolara. Loneliness, social participation, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among adults in Greece: A cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2026, 13(4): 999-1013. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026052
Loneliness is increasingly recognized as a public health concern and may be associated with health-related behaviors, including dietary habits. The Mediterranean diet is a well-established dietary pattern with recognized health benefits, yet adherence has declined in Mediterranean populations. This study examined the association between loneliness, social participation, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among adults in Greece.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2026 involving 288 adults in Greece recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed a structured anonymous questionnaire including sociodemographic, work-related, and lifestyle characteristics, the UCLA loneliness scale version 3, and the MEDAS-GR questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, correlation tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.
The mean age of participants was 35.5 years (SD = 12.1), and 76.7% were women. Most participants lived in urban areas (76.0%) and were employed full-time (73.5%). The mean loneliness score was 2.1 (SD = 0.5) on a 1–4 scale, while the mean Mediterranean diet adherence score was 6.6 (SD = 2.0) out of 14. Loneliness was negatively correlated with Mediterranean diet adherence (r = −0.202, p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, older age (b = 0.037, 95% CI: 0.017 to 0.056, p < 0.001), place of residence (b = −0.552, 95% CI: −0.975 to −0.129, p = 0.011), home meal preparation (b = −0.858, 95% CI: −1.368 to −0.348, p = 0.001), and systematic social participation (b = 0.665, 95% CI: 0.394 to 0.936, p < 0.001) were independently associated with Mediterranean diet adherence. Systematic social participation was also independently associated with lower loneliness (b = −0.356, 95% CI: −0.308 to −0.165, p < 0.001).
Among adults in Greece, Mediterranean diet adherence was moderate and loneliness was low to moderate. Social participation emerged as a key correlate of both lower loneliness and higher Mediterranean diet adherence, suggesting that public health strategies promoting healthy dietary behaviors may benefit from incorporating social and community-based components.
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Theodoros Pesiridis, Olympia Konstantakopoulou, Eleftheria Kotsi, Paraskevi Apostolara. Loneliness, social participation, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among adults in Greece: A cross-sectional study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2026, 13(4): 999-1013. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026052
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