Teacher-Induced Academic Stress: Predicting Eating Behavior Problems in College Students

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of academic stress on the eating behavior problems of 297 college students at San Agustin Institute of Technology during the second semester of the academic year 2022-2023. The researchers employed a quantitative approach using a descriptive-correlational research design. Specifically, this study determined the level of academic stress and the level of eating behavior problems of the respondents; examined if academic stress has a significant relationship with eating behavior problems; and investigated the influence of academic stress on the eating behavior problems of college students. The researchers adapted a questionnaire from the Survey of College Academic Stressors (SCAS) which was administered to measure stress-related academic factors while eating behavior was assessed using the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ). These two questionnaires were validated and reliability-tested with a Cronbach’s alpha of .972, which means reliable. Frequency count and percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson r product-moment correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used to treat the data. The results indicated that the level of academic stress experienced by the college students is “moderate” while their level of eating behavior problems is “high”. The results further revealed that respondents’ academic stress is associated with their eating behavior problems. Subsequently, academic stress especially in terms of teacher-related factors contributes to their eating behavior problems. That the more college students experienced teacher-related stressors, the more they engaged in unfavorable eating behavior. This finding underscores the critical role of the teacher-student dynamic in shaping college students' well-being beyond academics. Addressing teacher-related factors contributing to academic stress may offer a promising avenue for interventions aimed at mitigating eating behavior problems among students, fostering a healthier educational environment.