Antecedents and Consequences of Academic Stress on Dietary Habits of University Students: An Exploration of Stress Coping Mechanisms and Health Outcomes

Abstract

Students all around the globe experience increased stress when they enter a university after their secondary education. It has been observed that academic stress, much like other kinds of stress, has severe consequences for human health and other life activities. Taking into consideration the significance of the subject, this study aims to explore the factors causing academic stress among university students and its influence on their food consumption patterns along with other coping strategies employed by the students to manage their academic stress. The data was collected through three focus groups (22 participants). The critical, realistic approach followed by thematic analysis resulted in various themes i.e., types of stress; academic versus general, its antecedents, and impact; poor dietary habits, poor academic performance, and cognitive & behavioral problems. The findings also revealed various coping strategies, including pre-planning, prayer and meditation, reward systems, and attention diversion, employed by students to reduce their perceived academic stress. Interestingly, female students reported higher levels of perceived stress and resulting diet alterations than their male counterparts. The study also highlights various implications for university students, administrators, academic counselors, and future researchers.