Stress and food choices in higher education: Cross-sectional evidence of stress-induced dietary behaviors among Saudi University students
Ahmad A. Albalawi
A
BSTRACT
Introduction:
University students experience high levels of stress, which can significantly affect their dietary behaviors and long-term health outcomes. Although mental health and diet are known to be bidirectionally linked, the independent effect of stress on dietary habits remains largely unexamined in non-Western populations, particularly when controlling for sociodemographic confounders. This study aimed to examine the association between perceived stress and dietary intake patterns among Saudi university students before and after adjustment for sociodemographic confounders.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 425 university students (mean age 21 ± 1.8 years). The Perceived Stress Scale, a sociodemographic survey, and a Food Frequency Questionnaire were administered to assess consumption across seven core food groups. Binary logistic regressions were used to examine associations between stress scores and dietary patterns, with residual adjustments applied to control for age, sex, Body Mass Index, physical activity, household size, marital status, and monthly income.
Results:
In unadjusted analyses, higher stress was associated with increased consumption of fast-food meals, sugar-sweetened beverages, dairy products, and caffeinated drinks. After adjustment, associations with dairy products and caffeinated beverages disappeared. Fast-food consumption (OR = 1.06,
Conclusion:
Elevated perceived stress among Saudi university students is independently associated with greater consumption of fast-food meals and sugar-sweetened beverages, supporting psychobiological models of stress-induced reward-seeking eating and highlighting the need for stress-management strategies in academic settings to promote healthier dietary behaviors.