RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING HABITS AND MENTAL HEALTH OF UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Mental Health, Consumption Pattern, Nutrition Education, Undergraduates.Abstract
The major objective of the Study was to investigate the relationship between eating habits and mental health of undergraduates in the University of Nigeria. Specifically, the Study identified the eating habits of undergraduate students, assessed their mental health and determined the relationship between their eating habits and mental health. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. A total of 698 respondents were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique from Nsukka and Enugu Campuses. A structured questionnaire for eating habits and standardized instrument for Mental Health Continuum Short-Form was used to collect data. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, while Chi-square was used to determine relationship between variables. Results revealed that 33% of the respondents were critical eaters, 37.2% social eaters, 41.4% unconscious eater; 48% emotional eaters, 52.4% sensual eaters, 57.2% healthy eaters and 75.8% were habitual eaters. Respondents can belong to more than one eating habit category. Majority (49.1%) of the respondents had flourishing mental health, 42.1% had moderate mental health while 8.7% had languishing mental health. The finding showed that healthy, non-sensual and conscious eating habits were significantly (p < .05) associated with positive mental health. Majority of the respondents who were healthy, non-sensual and conscious eaters had flourishing mental health. While emotional, critical, habitual and social eaters were not associated with mental health because the P value was not significant (p≥.05). Free Nutrition and mental health counseling services should be made readily available to the students upon resumption and follow up support groups should monitor and evaluate progress.
References
Aldubaybi, A. (2024). Factors affecting mental wellbeing among UK university students. Doctoral dissertation, University of Nottingham.
Amawulu, E., & Eniyekedidei, P., K. (2018). Mental health status of students attending tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 10(10), 363-369. Doi:10.5897/JPHE2018.0999
American Heart Association. (2021). Healthy eating. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy- living/healthy-eating
Annesi, J. J. (2023). Effects of obesity treatment-associated changes in mood and self-regulation on high emotional eating. Current Psychology, 42(11), 8705-8708.
Anosike, C., Anene-Okeke, C. G., Ayogu, E. E., & Oshigbo, M. C. (2022). Prevalence of depression and anxiety, and attitudes toward seeking help among first-year pharmacy, medical, and nursing students in Nigerian universities. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 14(6), 720-728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2022.06.002
Alsheweir, A., Goyder, E., Alnooh, G., & Caton, S. J. (2023). Prevalence of Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviours amongst adolescents and young adults in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review. Nutrients, 15(21), 4643. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15214643
Chukwu, E., & Dogbe, W. (2023). The cause and effect of the nutrition transition in Nigeria: Analysis of the value of indigenous knowledge and traditional foods in Enugu State, Igboland. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 10(1), 30 - .
Cline, R. (2023). Blog: Mindful vs. Mindless eating. https://www.nchpad.org/1693/6799/Mindful~vs~~Mindless~Eating
Cormier, H. (2020). What type of eater are you. https://econofitness.ca/en/blog-eat-type-of- eater#:~:text=%F0%9F%95%92%20HABITUAL&text=Habitual%20eaters%20buy%20 and%20eat,convenient%20and%20easy%20to%20prepare
Freeman, M. (2022). The world mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. World psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 21(3), 391 – 392. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21018
Elizabeth Healthcare (2017). Six types of eaters. https://www.fox19.com/story/34630196/6- different-types-of-eaters-which-one-are-you/
Grajek, M., Krupa-Kotara, K., Białek-Dratwa, A., Sobczyk, K., Grot, M., Kowalski, O., & Staśkiewicz, W. (2022). Nutrition and mental health: A review of current knowledge about the impact of diet on mental health. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 943998.
Granero, R. (2022). Role of nutrition and diet on healthy mental state. Nutrients, 14(4), 750. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14040750
Higgs, S., & Ruddock, H. (2020). Social influences on eating. Handbook of eating and drinking: Interdisciplinary perspectives, 277-291.
Kandiah, J., Yake, M., Jones, J., & Meyer, M. (2006). Stress influences appetite and comfort food preferences in college women. Nutrition Research. 26(3), 118 – 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2005.11.010
Khalil, N.A. (2022). Malnutrition of micronutrients and brain disorders. In: Mohamed, W., and Yamashita, T. (eds.). Role of micronutrients in brain health. nutritional neurosciences. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6467-0_10
Lopez, R. B., Heatherton, T. F., & Wagner, D. D. (2020). Media multitasking is associated with higher risk for obesity and increased responsiveness to rewarding food stimuli. Brain Imaging and Behaviour, 14(4), 1050-1061.
Mahmood, L., Flores-Barrantes, P., Moreno, L., Manios, Y., & Gonzalez-Gil, E. (2021). The influence of parental dietary behaviours and practices on children’s eating habits. Nutrients, 13, 1138. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041138
Medina, C. R., Urbano, M. B., Espinosa, A. J., & López, Á. T. (2020). Eating habits associated with nutrition-related knowledge among university students enrolled in academic programs related to nutrition and culinary arts in Puerto Rico. Nutrients, 12(5), 1408. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu12051408
Mizia, S., Felińczak, A., Włodarek, D., & Syrkiewicz-Świtała, M. (2021). Evaluation of eating habits and their impact on health among adolescents and young adults: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), 3996. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083996
Muscaritoli, M. (2021). The impact of nutrients on mental health and well-being: insights from the literature. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, 656290.
Nair, T., & Joseph, S. (2024). Emotional eating, emotional regulation, and personality of college students. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 15(4).
Nasir, J., & Tahir, M. (2017). Factors affecting nutritional attitudes among university adults. Pakistan Journal of Commerce Social Sciences, 11(2), 644–652.
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/188309/1/pjcss386.pdf
Natural Choice Medical Clinic. (2021). Unconscious eating- the nemesis of mindful eating. https://naturalchoicemedicalclinic.com/health-tips/unconscious-eating-the-nemesis-of- mindful-eating/
Obumse, N. A., & Egenti, U. P. (2021). Influence of mental health status on academic
achievement of public secondary schools’ students in Anambra State. African Journal of Educational Management, Teaching and Entrepreneurship Studies, 3, 118-128.
Omage, K., & Omuemu, V. O. (2018). Assessment of dietary pattern and nutritional status of undergraduate students in a private university in southern Nigeria. Food Science and Nutrition, 6(7), 1890-1899. Doi:10.1002/fsn3.759.
Payne-Sturges, D. C., Tjaden, A., Caldeira, K. M., Vincent, K. B., & Arria, A. M. (2018). Student hunger on campus: Food insecurity among college students and implications for academic institutions. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 349-354.
Pengpid, S., & Peltzer, K. (2020). Skipping breakfast and its association with health risk
behaviour and mental health among university students in 28 countries. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, 2889-2897.
Sitohang, Y., M. (2022). Reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among
children and adolescents. Populasi, 30(1), 74-89.
Sogari, G., Velez-Argumedo, C., Gómez, M.I., & Mora, C. (2018). College students and eating habits: A study using an ecological model for healthy behavior. Nutrients, 10, 1823. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121823
Stefanska, E., Wendołowicz, A., Cwalina, U., Kowzan, U., Konarzewska, B., Szulc, A., &
Ostrowska, L. (2017). Assessment of dietary habits and nutritional status of depressive patients, depending on place of residence. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 24, 581–586. Doi:10.5604/12321966.1233554.
World Health Organization (2022). World mental health report. Transforming mental health for all. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Wren-Lewis, S., & Alexandrova, A. (2021). Mental health without well-being. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine, 46(6),
