Sep 5, 2026
2:00 PM12:00 PM
ePoster display
PD629
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING ATTITUDES AND DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS
Ö. Ç. Demir1,*, Y. Hazırbaba2
1Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Okan University, 2Nutrition and Dietetics, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Rationale: Depression, anxiety, and stress, which are common among university students, may negatively affect eating attitudes. Although Nutrition and Dietetics students have a high level of knowledge about healthy eating, they may have difficulty translating this knowledge into practice, posing risks both individually and professionally. This study aims to examine the relationship between eating attitudes and depression, anxiety, and stress.
Methods: The study was conducted between February and March 2025 with 181 students enrolled in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Istanbul Okan University. Data were collected online using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN), the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and DASS-42.
Results: Of the participants, 94.5% were female (n=171), with a mean age of 22.23±4.10 years; 80.1% were aged 20–24. The mean BMI was 22.4±3.5 kg/m², with 59.7% normal weight, 17.7% underweight, 17.7% overweight, and 5% obese. Depression and anxiety scores were negatively correlated with total ASHN scores (r=–0.37, r=–0.36). Subscales (Nutrition Knowledge, Positive Eating, Unhealthy Eating) also showed negative correlations with depression and anxiety. No significant associations were found between BMI, body composition, and depression, anxiety, or stress (p>0.05).
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Conclusion: Greater knowledge and positive attitudes toward healthy eating are associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety. The findings suggest that mental health may be more closely related to behavioral processes than physical indicators, highlighting the need for psychosocial and behavior-focused interventions for students.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared