Nutritional Habits and Lifestyle Changes of Nursing Students Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Aim The research was intended to determine the nutritional habits and lifestyle change of nursing students before and during the pandemic of Covid-19. Method In the population of nursing department students at a public university in Istanbul, between January 2020 and December 2021 the sample is formed by 548 students who agreed to participate in the research and filled out the survey questions. Student Diagnosis Form and Nutritional Habits Index were used to collect the data. Results During the pandemic period, 71.2% of students eat three main meals, 56.9% have the habit of eating at night, 21.4% use vitamins, 40.5% do physical activity, 13% smoke, 7.7% drink alcohol and 76.5% have sleep disorders. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, it was observed that the risky eating behaviors of the students decreased during the pandemic and there were moderately risky eating behaviors (p = 0.000). In addition, students in the fourth grade (p = 0.015), non-smokers (p = 0.000), non-alcoholic (p = 0.030), those who did not gain weight during the pandemic (p = 0.015), those who did not skip meals (p = 0.002), and those who did not eat at night (p = 0.030). =0.000), those who doing exercise (p = 0.010), those who do not have sleep problems (p = 0.000) have less risky eating behaviors. Conclusion students' physical inactivity, night eating habits and sleep disorders have increased during the pandemic period. Those who do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not skip meals, do not gain weight, do not eat at night, exercise and have less risky eating behaviors during the pandemic period.