The Effects of Diet, Physical Activity and Social Factors on Stress Perceived by Students

Abstract

Backgroud. General health status of students is becoming worse due to an intensive lifestyle: a difficult job or study routine, improper diet, and low physical activity (Poteliūnienė, 2010). One of the common problems among students is stress. Stressful situations on a daily basis have been found to be associated with a worse physical and psychological status, harmful habits or personal relationships with friends (Dusselier, Dunn, Wang, Shelley, & Whalen, 2005; Leppink, Odlaug, Lust, Christenson, & Grant, 2016). Methods. According to the following questionnaires, dietary habits and some social peculiarities (Grabauskas, Zaborskis, Klumbienė, Petkevičienė, & Žemaitienė, 2004), physical activity (Aadahl & JØrgensen, 2003) and perceived stress (Konduri, Gupchup, Borrego, & Worley-Louis, 2006) by female and male students were determined. The data obtained were processed using mathematical statistical methods. The relationships between qualitative determinants were evaluated by chi square (χ 2 ) criterion. A value at p < .05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 17.0) (Statistical Package for Social Science 17.0 for Windows) statistical software package. Results. Male students (54.2%) who were following a dietary regime reported experiencing low level of stress, and those students (45.2%) who were not having a dietary regime perceived moderate level of stress. Married female students (80%) responded that they experienced low level of stress, moderate level of stress was indicated by 72.7% of females living with a partner and 40% of females who had a boyfriend, and 38.5% of single females reported having high level of stress. Conclusions. Male students who were following a dietary regimen reported experiencing lower level of stress, and those students who were not having a dietary regimen responded that they perceived moderate level of stress. A dietary regimen and perceived stress did not differ among female students. Different levels of physical activity were not associated with stress experienced by female and male students (p > .05). Married female students did not perceive high level of stress; moderate level was reported by females living with a partner; high level of stress – by single students. Marital status and perceived stress did not differ in male students.

Associations between Sociodemographic, Body Mass Index, Body Image Perception, Physical Activity and Sleep Quality with Mental Health among University Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…No association was found between physical activity with depression, anxiety and stress which is supported by the previous studies (28,32,34,35). Conversely, few studies found significant association between physical activity and depression subscale (32,33,34).…”