25 / 34
Page 126
conferenceseries
.com
Volume 8
J Community Med Health Educ, an open access journal
ISSN: 2161-0711
Public Health 2018
February 26-28, 2018
PUBLIC HEALTH AND NUTRITION
3
rd
World Congress on
February 26-28, 2018 London, UK
J Community Med Health Educ 2018, Vol 8
DOI: 10.4172/2161-0711-C1-033
THE IMPACT OF CHANGE IN STRESS LEVEL AND COPING STRATEGIES ADAPTED ON
EATING BEHAVIORAMONG MULTI-ETHNIC MALAYSIANADOLESCENTS
Nurfazlinda Md Shah
a
, Nasrin Aghamohammadi
a
, Muhammad Yazid Jalaluddin
a
and
Hazreen Abdul Majid
a
a
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Statement of the Problem
: Worldwide global surveys had demonstrated increasing trend of mental health among adolescents
which is concurrent with high prevalence of obesity among this population. This study aim to explore the effects of change in
stress level and coping strategies adapted when dealing with examination stress on eating behavior of the adolescents.
Methodology
: A total of 797 multi-ethnic Malaysian adolescents participated in this cohort. This is a sub-study of a cohort.
The changes of stress level and eating behavior between two time points and coping strategies adapted were explored using
validated questionnaires; the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) questionnaire, self-reported Child Eating Behavior
Questionnaire (CEBQ) and brief COPE questionnaire. All participants and parents consented for the study. Baseline data
were collected within two weeks prior to final year school examination. Follow up data were collected six months later during
normal school days.
Findings
: The results revealed positive correlation between change in perceived stress level and emotional overeating (r=0.18,
p<0.01) and between change in perceived stress level and food responsiveness behavior (r=0.14, p<0.01). Students who
experienced an increase in stress level (OR=1.9, 95%CI: 1.3, 2.9), doing a little bit of planning (OR=2.0, 95%CI: 1.1, 3.5) and
use a lot of emotional support to cope with stress (OR=1.7, 95%CI: 0.9, 3.1) were more likely to emotional overeat. Students
who experienced an increase in stress level (OR=1.4, 95%CI: 1.0, 2.1), use humor (OR=1.4, 95%CI: 0.9, 2.0) and self-blame
(OR=1.6, 95%CI: 0.9, 2.7) a little when coping with stress were more likely to be responsive to food.
Conclusion
: The findings suggested for a comprehensive intervention focusing on managing the changes in stress level by
adapting an appropriate stress coping strategy. This will promote positive healthy eating behavior thus assist in the prevention
of obesity among the adolescents.