Correlations among Life Stress, Dietary Behaviors and Food Choice of College Students

일부 지역 대학생의 생활 스트레스, 식행동, 식품 선택에 관한 상관성 연구

This study was performed to investigate stress levels, dietary behaviors and food choices, and their correlations in college students. General characteristic stress scores, using a stress test, and the dietary behaviors and food choices of subjects under stress were measured in 358 subjects (185 males and 173 female). The mean total stress scores of the male and female students were $67.91{\pm}44.85$ and $85.62{\pm}48.91$, respectively. Female students were more stressed than males in relation to family, value, future, friends, and study related factors. There were gender differences in the food intake and frequency of eating sweet things when under stress. Stress increased the food intake and frequency of eating sweet things in female students. Especially, stress factors, such as value, economic, future, friends and study problems increased the food intake of female students. Female students preferred sweet tasting items; whereas, male students preferred hot tasting items when under stress. These results show the effect of life stresses on the dietary behaviors and food choices of college students. Stress not only increased energy consumption in certain individuals, but also changed their food choices. Therefore, education with regard to nutrition is necessary if college students are to practice good eating habits for the correct management of life stresses.