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Journals / Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 1

Reflections of academic anxiety on diet and eating behaviors: the relationship between exam stress and nutrition in young adults

Akademik kaygının beslenme ve yeme davranışlarına yansımaları: genç yetişkinlerde sınav stresi ve beslenme arasındaki ilişki

Serap İncedal Irgat(KARAMANOĞLU MEHMETBEY ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6458-5568
Hande Bakırhan(Kahramanmaraş İstiklal Üniversitesi)0000-0001-9377-888X
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-01-05
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: As the level of test anxiety increased, abnormal eating behavior also increased, and test anxiety was positively correlated with abnormal eating behavior.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aims: Test anxiety/stress may influence eating behaviors and diet quality.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: This study was conducted with 557 young adults via a voluntary sampling method via online platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) between April and May 2025.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: As the level of test anxiety increased, abnormal eating behavior also increased, and test anxiety was positively correlated with abnormal eating behavior.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Young adult · test anxiety · eating attitudes and behaviors

Abstract

Aims: Test anxiety/stress may influence eating behaviors and diet quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between exam stress and eating attitudes, behaviors, and diet quality in young adults. Methods: This study was conducted with 557 young adults via a voluntary sampling method via online platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) between April and May 2025. The survey form used to collect data consisted of four sections: an introductory information form covering sociodemographic characteristics, the Westside Test Anxiety Scale, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and AMOS 24. Independent samples t tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis were used. Results: Most of the participants exhibited normal eating attitudes (74.3%) and moderate Mediterranean diet characteristics (57.6%). Compared with those with normal eating behaviors, those with abnormal eating behaviors had significantly lower MEDAS scores (6.2±2.13 vs. 6.9±2.36, p=0.003) and significantly higher Westside Test Anxiety Inventory scores (33.0±9.30 vs. 28.4±9.12, p<0.001). The Westside Test Anxiety Inventory score was significantly positively correlated with the EAT-26 score (r=0.29, p<0.001) and body weight (r=0.10, p=0.01). Test anxiety significantly predicted EAT-26 scores (β=0.292, p<0.001), and approximately 8.5% of the variance in eating attitudes and behaviors was explained by test anxiety level (R²=0.085). The effect of test anxiety on the MEDAS total score was not statistically significant (β=–0.055, p=0.195). Conclusion: As the level of test anxiety increased, abnormal eating behavior also increased, and test anxiety was positively correlated with abnormal eating behavior.

Özet

Amaç: Sınav kaygısı/stresi, yeme davranışlarını ve diyet kalitesini etkileyebilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, genç yetişkinlerde sınav stresi ile yeme tutumları, davranışları ve diyet kalitesi arasındaki ilişkileri incelemektir. Yöntem: Bu çalışma, Nisan-Mayıs 2025 tarihleri ​​arasında çevrimiçi platformlar (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp vb.) üzerinden gönüllü örnekleme yöntemiyle 557 genç yetişkinle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veri toplamak için kullanılan anket formu dört bölümden oluşmaktadır: sosyodemografik özellikleri kapsayan bir tanıtım bilgi formu, Westside Sınav Kaygısı Ölçeği, Yeme Tutumları Testi (EAT-26) ve Akdeniz Diyetine Uyum Taraması (MEDAS). Sonuç: Katılımcıların çoğu normal yeme tutumları (%74,3) ve orta düzeyde Akdeniz diyeti özellikleri (%57,6) sergilemiştir. Normal yeme davranışı gösterenlerle karşılaştırıldığında, anormal yeme davranışı gösterenlerin MEDAS puanları anlamlı derecede düşük (6,2±2,13 vs 6,9±2,36, p=0,003) ve anlamlı derecede yüksek Westside Sınav Kaygısı Envanteri puanları (33,0±9,30 vs 28,4±9,12, p<0,001) bulundu. Westside Sınav Kaygısı Envanteri puanı, EAT-26 puanı (r=0,29, p<0,001) ve vücut ağırlığı (r=0,10, p=0,01) ile anlamlı derecede pozitif korelasyon gösterdi. Sonuç: Anormal yeme davranışı düzeyi arttıkça sınav kaygısı da artmakta olup, sınav kaygısının anormal yeme davranışı ve vücut ağırlığı ile pozitif korelasyon gösterdiği bulundu.

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Cite This Article

Irgat, S. İ., Bakırhan, H. (2026). Reflections of academic anxiety on diet and eating behaviors: the relationship between exam stress and nutrition in young adults. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 9 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1815393

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