J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2006 Jan;27(1):7-11.

The Relationship between Stress and Eating Habits of University Students

• Song DB
• Seo DH
• Park HB
• Ahn SG
• Sun SM
• Park EC
• Lee HY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, many studies have reported that university students have been suffering from stress because of their the uncertainty of their future and employment. Eating habits have often been considered as one of health-related behaviors that may be affected by life stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between stress and eating habits in university students.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was designed. The subjects were 282 university students which assessed their eating habits and stresses. The total numbs of students in the study 263. Eating habits were scored using a questionnaire consisting of three categories-regularity, balance, and preference. The stress was assessed by modified Korean version of BEPSI.
RESULTS
The stress score was 2.4 and the total score of eating habits was 44.2. The regularity among the domains of eating habits was 14.1, the balance score was 16.1, and the preference was 14.0. In multiple regression after adjustment with confounding variables, stress had a negative relationship with eating habits.
CONCLUSION
The relationship between stress and eating habits was statistically significant, especially in regularity and balance. It is important to know not only the health status, but also the factors associated with health such as stresses and eating habits in order to improve the health status of the university students. Further research needs to uncover causality and make a generalization.

Keyword

stress; eating habit; regularity; balance; preference

MeSH Terms

Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
Cross-Sectional Studies
Eating*
Employment
Generalization (Psychology)
Humans
Stress, Psychological
Uncertainty
Surveys and Questionnaires