ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EATING BEHAVIOUR, STRESS LEVEL AND BODY MASS INDEX OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Stress among university students is rising and affects eating behaviour and body mass index. This study aims to determine the relationship between stress and eating behaviour and its association with body mass index among undergraduate students in Universiti Sains Malaysia. A total of 107 subjects were recruited using convenience sampling method. Questionnaire on sociodemographic data, anthropometry, validated stress scale (Cohen’s Perceived stress scale questionnaire) and eating behaviour (Three-factor eating questionnaire R21) were given to participants. Analysis indicated that more than half of the subject had moderate stress level (69.2 %). However, there was no significant difference between stress and gender (p=0.55). The eating behaviour analysis showed no significant difference between gender and all the domains of eating behaviour (Cognitive restrain, Uncontrolled eating and emotional eating). As for body mass index, majority of participant recorded normal BMI where male students had significantly higher median BMI (22.68 ± 6.91 kg/m2) than female students (20.68 ± 4.07 kg/m2) (p=0.001). The emotional eating was associated with lower BMI (p=0.02). High perceived stress was significantly associated with median BMI tested using Kruskal Wallis test (p=0.001). There was a significant association between uncontrolled eating domain (p=0.041) and emotional eating domain (p=0.013) with perceived stress level.