Gender Differences in the Relationships between Perceived Stress, Eating Behaviors, Sleep, Dietary Risk, and Body Mass Index

Nutrients, vol. 14, pp. 1045

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a growing epidemic among university students, and the high levels of stress reported by this population could contribute to this issue. Singular relationships between perceived stress; engagement in restrained, uncontrolled, and emotional eating; sleep; dietary risk; and body mass index (BMI) have been reported in the current body of literature; however, these constructs interact with each other, and the complex relationships among them are infrequently examined. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the complex relationships between these constructs using mediation and moderation analyses stratified by gender. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, enrolling university students from the United States (U.S.), the Netherlands, South Korea, Malaysia, Ireland, Ghana, and China, was conducted between October 2020 and January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived stress; maladaptive eating behaviors including restrained, uncontrolled, and emotional eating; sleep duration and quality; dietary risk; and BMI were assessed using validated questionnaires, which were distributed through an online platform. RESULTS: A total of 1392 students completed the online survey (379 male, 973 female, and 40 who self-identified as "other"). Uncontrolled and emotional eating mediated the relationship between perceived stress and dietary risk for both males and females; higher sleep quality weakened this relationship among female students but not males. Emotional eating mediated the relationship between perceived stress and BMI for both males and females, but higher sleep quality weakened this relationship only among females. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that students in higher education are likely to benefit from interventions to reduce uncontrolled and emotional eating. Programs that improve sleep quality, especially during highly stressful periods, may be helpful.

Authors 16

1. Chen Du

   Michigan State University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

2. Mary Adjepong

   Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biochemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana

3. Megan Chong Hueh Zan

   IMU University

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia

4. Min Jung Cho Aachen Global Public Health

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Global Public Health, Leiden University College, 2595 DG The Hague, The Netherlands

5. Jenifer I. Fenton

   Michigan State University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

6. Pao Ying Hsiao

   Indiana University of Pennsylvania

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Food and Nutrition, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA 15705, USA

7. Laura Keaver

   Institute of Technology Sligo

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Health and Nutritional Science, Institute of Technology Sligo, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland

8. HeeSoon Lee

   Bowling Green State University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Human Services, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA

9. Mary‐Jon Ludy

   Bowling Green State University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA

10. Wan Shen

    Bowling Green State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA

11. Winnie Siew Swee Chee

    IMU University

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia

12. Jyothi K. Thrivikraman Aachen Global Public Health

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Global Public Health, Leiden University College, 2595 DG The Hague, The Netherlands

13. Felicity Amoah-Agyei

    Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biochemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana

14. Emilie de Kanter Aachen Global Public Health

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Global Public Health, Leiden University College, 2595 DG The Hague, The Netherlands

15. Wenyan Wang

    Michigan State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

16. Robin M. Tucker corresponding

    Michigan State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA