Association between Perceived Stress and Dietary Habits in Adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65168/bs.226-15Keywords:
food consumption, sugary foods, unhealthy, emotionAbstract
Researchers have identified a rising global prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, primarily attributed to psychological stress and dietary habits. Elevated stress levels in children often result in adverse eating behaviors, such as a craving for sweets, overeating, or restrictive eating behaviors. This study aims to evaluate stress levels in adolescents and examine the association with changes in dietary habits.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents aged 15–17 years from General Education Schools No. 5 and 142, as well as the Shine-Irgenshil Polytechnic College of Information Technology. Stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Dietary habits were evaluated through a questionnaire, and food consumption was determined using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) method. The results indicate that 81.8% of the participants experienced elevated stress levels. Compared with the low-stress group, the high-stress group showed statistically significant increases in nocturnal overeating (74%), consuming more than three meals per day (38%), and rushed eating (19%). Furthermore, the consumption of grains, protein-rich foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sweets was higher among adolescents with elevated stress levels.
Therefore, it is essential to develop tailored stress-management and nutrition programs, integrate them into the 'Health Education' curricuxlum, and implement community-based nutrition interventions.
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