Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Cathy Anstrom
Project Type
Departmental Honors project
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Abstract
Background
College students experience school-related stress that may lead to coping mechanisms that manifest into poor food choices. The purpose of this current study is to explore what types of foods are eaten when college students are experiencing school-related stress.
Methods
A quantitative design was used. An online survey was sent out to 2,800 undergraduate students at a private Midwestern university. One hundred and twenty-six usable questionnaires were returned for data analysis. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were administered online; Perceived Stress Scale assessed stress levels and the NHANES Dietary Screener evaluated foods consumed over the past month. Using Spearman’s r, stress scores were correlated to two categories if food, nutrient-dense or calorically dense, to see if high stress scores were more commonly seen with an increase of nutrient-dense or calorically dense foods.
Results
Stress scores of participants were correlated to 19 food categories; eight being nutritionally dense foods (i.e., leafy greens) and 11 were calorically dense (i.e., pizza). Spearman’s r correlation showed one of 19 was statistically significant – beans with p = 0.002 and a Spearman’s r = -0.278 showing a negative correlation; indicating when students are stressed, they do not eat beans.
Conclusion
According to the data analysis, when students are experiencing school related stress, eating habits are not influenced by whether the food is nutritionally or calorically dense. Students chose foods from both groups. Beans were the only food category to show statistical significance with a negative correlation. The limited sample size does not allow for the results to be generalized.
Funding Disclosures
None.
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
The Association of Stress on College Student's Food Choices
Fishbowl
Background
College students experience school-related stress that may lead to coping mechanisms that manifest into poor food choices. The purpose of this current study is to explore what types of foods are eaten when college students are experiencing school-related stress.
Methods
A quantitative design was used. An online survey was sent out to 2,800 undergraduate students at a private Midwestern university. One hundred and twenty-six usable questionnaires were returned for data analysis. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were administered online; Perceived Stress Scale assessed stress levels and the NHANES Dietary Screener evaluated foods consumed over the past month. Using Spearman’s r, stress scores were correlated to two categories if food, nutrient-dense or calorically dense, to see if high stress scores were more commonly seen with an increase of nutrient-dense or calorically dense foods.
Results
Stress scores of participants were correlated to 19 food categories; eight being nutritionally dense foods (i.e., leafy greens) and 11 were calorically dense (i.e., pizza). Spearman’s r correlation showed one of 19 was statistically significant – beans with p = 0.002 and a Spearman’s r = -0.278 showing a negative correlation; indicating when students are stressed, they do not eat beans.
Conclusion
According to the data analysis, when students are experiencing school related stress, eating habits are not influenced by whether the food is nutritionally or calorically dense. Students chose foods from both groups. Beans were the only food category to show statistical significance with a negative correlation. The limited sample size does not allow for the results to be generalized.
Funding Disclosures
None.