Abstract:
Background: Academic stress is thought to affect eating behaviors among students from different majors. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between stress and emotional eating among undergraduate students belonging to varied majors in different Lebanese universities.
Method: The current study design was cross-sectional and included 190 undergraduate students, belonging to sciences, architecture, business, engineering and technology and social sciences majors. Data were collected through an online self-administered survey that included some demographic questions and three validated tools: The Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PASS), Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) and Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ).
Results: The findings revealed a positive correlation between stress and emotional eating and a negative correlation between stress and physical activity. Indeed, higher stress and emotional eating levels were detected in architecture, sciences, and engineering & technology majors. Moreover, students have a high tendency to consume caloric dense and empty calorie foods, (sweets and fast foods) throughout an emotional eating episode.
Conclusion: Eating habits are negatively impacted by stress. Therefore, our findings highlight the necessity of an intervention that aims at helping university students to manage their stress effectively, thus maintaining healthier eating habits.
