Stress and health behavior among college students

The effect of stress and gender on health behavior, as well as the association amongst health behaviors, was examined. Past research has shown that stress can lead to higher levels of abnormal eating behaviors and attitudes, lower levels of exercise participation, and increased risk of smoking; studies have shown some gender differences as well. Seventy-eight college students completed questionnaires about stress, disordered eating, physical activity, and smoking status. Results showed that higher levels of stress were associated with higher levels of disordered eating, and that females have more abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors than males. Higher levels of exercise are associated with higher levels of disordered eating, particularly for females, which may be indicative of the eating disordered population on college campuses