The Relationship between Stress and Emotional Eating in Baccalaureate Nursing Students

Nursing students consistently report high levels of stress. This replication study examined the relationship between stress and emotional eating in undergraduate nursing students and compared findings with the original 2012 study. The non-experimental study was guided by the Psychosomatic Theory. Sampling and data collection occurred using three waves of recruitment emails to all sophomore and senior nursing students in spring of 2021. Stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Tool. Emotional eating was measured with the Weight and Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire. Emotional eating was higher in seniors, there was no level difference in stress, and BMI was higher in sophomores, compared with seniors. No relationship was found between stress and emotional eating in this sample or in subsamples of sophomores or seniors, contrary to the 2012 findings of relationships in the sample and in both subsamples. Further, stress was 52% higher in 2021, compared with 2012. Emotional eating was 11% lower in 2021, compared with 2012. Continual high levels of stress can lead to physical and mental health issues; therefore, it is important to take care of mental and physical well-being during stressful times