Unhealthy eating and academic stress: The moderating effect of eating style and BMI

Caso, Daniela; Capasso, Miriam; Fabbricatore, Rosa; Conner, Mark

doi:10.1177/2055102920975274

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…We also found that a higher frequency of stressed eating and overeating in college students was significantly correlated with a higher stress level. Parallel to this finding, previous studies (Caso et al 2020;Kaplan and Kaplan 1957;Penaforte et al 2016) showed that college students used food as a dysfunctional coping strategy to reduce stress. As a result, they tend to eat more when they feel stressed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Increased academic stressors and stress levels in college students can impact health-related behaviours, such as eating (Caso et al 2020). Several previous studies have shown that high levels of stress in college students are associated with increases in unhealthy food consumption, especially snacks and fast food (Errisuriz et al 2016;Liu et al 2007;Mikolajczyk et al 2009;Penaforte et al 2016;Zellner et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correlation between Stress and Eating Behaviour in College Students: A Longitudinal Study

et al. 2022

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Stress is a process that involves the perception of and response to pressure and is often related to eating behaviour. For college students, academic stress could be one factor that affects eating behaviour. So far, no longitudinal study has directly compared the same respondents’ stress levels and eating behaviours in different years of study. Thus, this study aimed to examine changes in stress levels and eating behaviour during college students’ third and final years and determine the correlation between stress levels and eating behaviour. We asked 89 undergraduate students (27 males and 62 females) to complete a questionnaire on their stress levels using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and their eating behaviour. Our results showed that students had significantly higher stress levels during the final year than in their third year. Our results also showed that during the student’s final year, there was a significant increase in eating when feeling stressed, overeating, eating fast food, and skipping meals compared to their third year. There was also a significant decrease in healthy food consumption during the final year compared to the third year. During the third year of study, stress levels were increased by academic workload pressure; meanwhile, during the final year of study, they were affected by sex and undergraduate thesis pressure. These results indicate that differences in academic pressure in different years of study can influence stress levels and eating behaviour in college students.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation between Stress and Eating Behaviour in College Students: A Longitudinal Study

et al. 2022

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“…The lack of knowledge about the disease, the sudden and unexpected nature of the pandemic, the fear of contracting the virus, the social isolation and the constant media bombardment about the spread of the virus could have caused high levels of psychological distress ( Arslan et al, 2020 , Capone et al, 2020 , Di Renzo et al, 2020 , Wang et al, 2020 ). It has been widely confirmed that stress and negative emotional states can affect eating behaviour, altering both the amount of food consumed (increasing or reducing it) and the choice of food ( Caso et al, 2020 , Hill et al, 2018 , Reichenberger et al, 2018 , Torres and Nowson, 2007 ). More specifically, negative emotions, in particular anxiety and fear, can result in excessive food consumption and a tendency to consume unhealthy foods (e.g., high-fat snack foods) as a strategy to avoid or reduce such negative emotions ( Macht, 2008 , Wallis and Hetherington, 2009 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finally, the chance to eat healthily: Longitudinal study about food consumption during and after the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy

Caso

Guidetti

Capasso

et al. 2022

Food Quality and Preference

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With the COVID-19 outbreak, structural constraints and social psychological factors changed the dietary habits of many people. This two-wave longitudinal study performed in Italy aimed to explore people’s perceptions of changes in healthy and unhealthy food consumption before and during the first lockdown and the possible persistence of such changes after its official end, as a function of the number of people cohabiting, negative emotion activation, and individual eating styles. A total of 728 Italian adults completed self-reported food consumption measures and related psychological variables at both time points. In the lockdown period, participants reported an increase in healthy food consumption and involvement in cooking and a decrease in the consumption of junk food. This general pattern was stronger for both young and restrained eaters. The intensity of negative emotions and the number of cohabitants were not associated with the examined behaviour. In the post-lockdown period, the new consumption pattern acquired during the confinement was partially discontinued: participants cut down their healthy food consumption as well as their involvement in food preparation, but they continued to reduce their junk food intake. These results suggest that people’s food consumption patterns can easily improve when the situation is favourable (e.g., more time and opportunities for cooking healthy meals) and offer an interesting theoretical contribution to understanding the factors useful in promoting healthy eating, in the event of a future outbreak.

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“…For young adults, the college years present many challenges to the maintenance or development of healthy behaviors (e.g., regular physical activity, high quality diets) [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Of particular concern are college women, who face barriers such as lack of knowledge, misinformation, poor body image, social pressures, and time obligations that may cause strain on their motivation and self-efficacy for appropriate and healthy engagement in physical activity and dietary habits [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of a Theory-Based, Online Tailored Message Program to Motivate Healthier Behaviors in College Women

2022

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We aimed to test the feasibility of an online survey and tailored message program in young women. Recruited from college campuses, women (n = 189) completed an online survey assessing preference for and behaviors toward diet and physical activity as well as theory-based influencers of these behaviors (knowledge/information, motivation, and confidence). Health messages were tailored to the participant’s survey responses and learning style to address misconceptions and motivate or reinforce healthy physical activity and dietary behaviors. Most women reported the survey as relevant (92%) and useful for reflecting on their health (83%), with survey responses variable in level of nutrition and physical activity knowledge, motivation, and confidence. Each woman received four tailored messages—most reported the messages as relevant (80%) and learning new information (60%). Across all messages, nearly half of the participants (~48%) reported willingness to try or maintain healthier behaviors and confidence in their ability. Body size discrepancy and dietary restraint had small effects message responses of information learned, and the motivation and confidence in trying healthier behaviors. In summary, these data support the feasibility of this online tailored message program. The college women found the tailored message program acceptable and useful to motivate healthier behaviors. The findings provide direction for behaviorally focused interventions to improve dietary and physical activity behaviors.

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Unhealthy eating and academic stress: The moderating effect of eating style and BMI

Cited by 34 publications

References 77 publications

Correlation between Stress and Eating Behaviour in College Students: A Longitudinal Study

Correlation between Stress and Eating Behaviour in College Students: A Longitudinal Study

Finally, the chance to eat healthily: Longitudinal study about food consumption during and after the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy

Feasibility of a Theory-Based, Online Tailored Message Program to Motivate Healthier Behaviors in College Women

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