Evaluation of Perceived Stress Level and Emotional Eating Behaviors of Sports College Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the perceived stress level and emotional eating behaviors of sports college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 122 volunteer students studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University. The data was collected online through the socio-demographic data form, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Emotional Eating Scale. Results: The perceived stress scale score average of the students was 28.93±7.54, with 37.7% (n=46) having a low stress level, 58.2% (n=71) having a moderate stress level and 4.1% (n=5) having a high stress level. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of emotional eating behavior scores (p=0,132). Both perceived stress level scores (P=0.044) and emotional eating behavior scores (p=0.001) of female students were significantly higher compared to male students. Both perceived stress scale scores (p=0.002) and emotional eating behavior scores (p=0.029) of the students with BMI 25. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic had a number of negative effects on students' stress levels and emotional eating behaviors. It is thought that quarantine measures that is applied to prevent transmission and spread of the disease, concerns about the disease and school education may contribute to these negative effects. During COVID-19 pandemic it is important to keep the immune system strong by preventing mood changes and related emotional eating behavior.

Keywords

• covid-19
• perceived stress
• emotional eating
• quarantina
• circadian rhythm
• covid-19
• algılanan stres
• duygusal yeme
• karantina
• sirkadiyen ritm