Sains Malaysiana 49(1)(2020): 121-128

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4901-14

 

Stress and Food Intake among University Students - Is There a Relationship?

(Stres dan Pengambilan Makanan dalam Kalangan Pelajar Universiti - Apakah Perkaitannya?)

 

SHI-HUI CHENG* & MUHAMMAD KHAIR MOHD KAMIL

 

School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 20 September 2019/Diterima: 11 Oktober 2019

 

ABSTRACT

There is a growing interest in the effects of stress on food consumption. Studies suggest that stress could either increases or decreases food consumption among university students. As the prevalence of stress is evident among university students in various countries, this study aims to investigate the relationship of stress on dietary consumption among undergraduate students of a private university. A cross-sectional study was carried out and a total of 100 participants aged between 18-25 years and non-smokers were recruited. Anthropometric data was measured and participants were asked to answer a questionnaire which accessed their sociodemographic background, stress level, frequency of food intake and 3-day dietary intake. The data collected were then analysed using SPSS software. This study found that males consumed cooked vegetables less frequently than females (male= 2.38±1.48; female= 3.68±1.31, p<0.001) while consumed soft drinks more frequently than females (male= 1.90±1.31; female= 1.28 ±1.24, p<0.05). In addition, stressed group consume significantly lower energy, fat (including saturated fat, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids) and calcium than non-stressed group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of stress among university students in this study was 40%. Students eat lesser when they are in stress and this could negatively impact their health. Therefore, stress management interventions need to be implemented to help the university students to manage their stress and this could help to promote healthy eating behaviour among university students. 

 

Keywords: Dietary intake; eating behavior; food consumption; stress; university students

 

Abstrak

Pada masa kini, minat untuk mendalami kesan tekanan ke atas pemakanan seseorang individu semakin meluas. Beberapa kajian mendapati bahawa tekanan akan meningkatkan atau mengurangkan pola pemakanan seseorang. Oleh kerana prevalens tekanan semakin meningkat dalam kalangan pelajar universiti di pelbagai negara, maka kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji hubungan tekanan terhadap pola pemakanan dalam kalangan pelajar di sebuah universiti swasta. Kajian keratan lintang telah dijalankan dan seramai 100 peserta yang berumur antara 18-25 tahun dan bukan perokok menyertai kajian ini. Data antropometri diukur dan para peserta diminta menjawab soal selidik yang mengumpulkan data mengenai latar belakang mereka, kadar tekanan yang dialami, kekerapan pengambilan makanan dan rekod pengambilan makanan selama 3 hari. Data yang dikumpul kemudian dianalisis manggunakan perisian SPSS. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa wanita lebih kerap memakan sayur-sayuran berbanding dengan lelaki (lelaki= 2.38±1.48; wanita= 3.68±1.31, p<0.001) dan lelaki lebih kerap meminum minuman ringan berbanding dengan wanita (lelaki= 1.90±1.31; wanita= 1.28 ±1.24, p<0.05). Di samping itu, pengambilan makanan daripada segi tenaga, lemak dan kalsium bagi kumpulan yang tertekan lebih rendah berbanding kumpulan yang tidak tertekan (p<0.05). Secara kesimpulannya, prevalens tekanan dalam kalangan pelajar universiti dalam kajian ini adalah 40%. Pengambilan makanan dalam kalangan pelajar yang tertekan berkurangan dan ini memberi kesan buruk kepada kesihatan mereka. Oleh itu, intervensi pengurusan tekanan perlu dilaksanakan untuk membantu pelajar universiti menguruskan tekanan mereka dan ini dapat membantu meningkatan pola pemakanan yang sihat dalam kalangan pelajar universiti.

 

Kata kunci: Corak pemakanan; pelajar universiti; pengambilan makanan; pola pemakanan; tekanan

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: shihui.cheng@nottingham.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

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