A Gender-Based Analysis of Stress-Induced Eating Behaviours and Their Health Implications Among College Students in Different States

INTRODUCTION

The transition to college life marks a critical developmental period characterised by newfound independence, academic pressures, social adjustments, and lifestyle changes. Among these, psychological stress is a general experience for many college students and has been broadly acknowledged as a significant factor in health-related behaviours, particularly eating patterns.^[1,2] Stress-induced eating, often referred to as emotional eating, involves the consumption of food, especially energy-dense and high-sugar items, in response to emotional distress rather than physiological hunger. This behaviour has been increasingly reported among young adults and is of growing public health concern due to its association with adverse physical and mental health outcomes.^[3,4]

Many studies have explored the psychological and behavioural implications of emotional eating, linking it with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality.^[5,6] The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, contributing to heightened stress levels and a corresponding rise in unhealthy eating behaviours among students.^[3,7] Gender plays a crucial role in modulating stress responses and eating patterns, with females more likely to engage in emotional eating than males, potentially due to differing coping mechanisms, hormonal factors, and social expectations.^[8,9]

Regardless of increasing awareness of emotional eating in academic settings, limited research has systematically investigated its gender-specific patterns across various cultural and geographic contexts. Studies conducted in different parts of India and abroad suggest variability in both perceived stress and eating behaviours, influenced by socio-economic factors, dietary habits, and regional disparities.^[10,11] Moreover, stress-induced eating has been implicated in the development of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular conditions, underscoring the need for early intervention among young adults.^[12]

New research has offered significant statistical evidence about the occurrence and trends of stress-induced eating among university students. The university-wide surveys have shown that as many as 45-60% of students indicate engaging in emotional eating when under high stress, with a significantly greater proportion reported by female students.^[1,8] Some cross-sectional investigations have identified perceived stress as the predominant predictor of adverse eating behaviours, explaining a significant percentage of variance in eating patterns even after controlling for confounders like sleep quality, body mass index (BMI), and mental health status.^[4,5] The findings emphasise the importance of using gender-stratified statistical methods to better explain the psychosocial mechanisms that underlie stress-related eating and its health consequences.

The present study aims to conduct a gender-based statistical analysis of stress-induced eating behaviours and their health implications among college students across different states. By identifying gender differences and regional trends in stress-related eating, the study seeks to inform targeted strategies for promoting psychological resilience and healthy lifestyle choices in this vulnerable population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS

The analysis was conducted to assess the demographic, anthropometric, emotional, and behavioural patterns associated with stress-induced eating among college students across Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. The study results are presented state-wise to highlight regional variations and gender-specific differences, and the following tables summarise the key findings.

Table 1 summarised the age distribution of students from Karnataka (n = 200), Kerala (n = 151), and Andhra Pradesh (n = 204). The majority of students in Karnataka fall within the 18-21 age group (60.5%), while Kerala shows a more balanced distribution between the 18-21 (46.4%) and 22-25 (53.6%) age groups. Andhra Pradesh has a larger proportion of older students, with 75% in the 22-25 age group and 7.8% in the 26-29 age range. The mean age is highest in Andhra Pradesh (23.14 years), followed by Kerala (21.36 years), and lowest in Karnataka (21.05 years). The SD is highest in Kerala (2.112), indicating a wider spread of ages, whereas Karnataka has the least variability (SD = 1.441). These findings suggest notable inter-state differences in student age profiles, potentially reflecting variations in educational pathways.

Table 2 presented the gender and BMI distribution of students across three South Indian states. Female students constitute the majority in Kerala (70.9%) and Karnataka (61%), whereas in Andhra Pradesh, males are slightly more predominant (55.9%). Regarding BMI, the majority of students in all three states fall within the normal category, with the highest proportion seen in Karnataka (78%), followed by Andhra Pradesh (66.7%) and Kerala (60.3%). Kerala has the highest proportion of underweight students (11.3%) and a relatively higher percentage of overweight (24.5%) and obese (4%) individuals compared to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh shows a moderate prevalence of overweight (19.1%) and obesity (4.9%). Overall, while most students have normal BMI, Kerala students exhibit greater variation in BMI categories, and gender distribution patterns vary distinctly across the states.

Table 3 analysed the association between gender and BMI classification among students in all three states using the Chi-square (χ₂) test at 5% level of significance. In Karnataka, although a higher number of females are underweight compared to males (8 vs. 0), the association between gender and BMI is not statistically significant (χ₂ = 5.41, p = 0.144). Similarly, in Kerala, more females than males fall into the underweight and overweight categories, but again, the gender difference is not statistically significant (χ₂ = 1.797, p = 0.616). However, in Andhra Pradesh, a significant association is observed between gender and BMI (χ₂ = 13.29, p = 0.004), with more males in the normal category (88 vs. 48) and more females in the underweight and obese categories. This indicates that gender is significantly related to BMI classification in Andhra Pradesh but not in Karnataka or Kerala.

Table 4 presented a gender-wise distribution of educational qualifications and campus residency among students from three South Indian states. In Karnataka, the majority are undergraduates (68%), with a fairly balanced gender split (61 males, 75 females), and most reside off-campus (59%). Kerala shows greater diversity in educational status, with nearly half (49%) being graduates and a significant number of post-graduates (17.9%). Females dominate in graduate and post-graduate categories, and 72.2% of students reside off-campus. Andhra Pradesh students have the highest proportion of post-graduates (35.3%) and a relatively balanced representation of graduates (34.3%) and under-graduates (29.4%). Unlike the other two states, a majority of Andhra Pradesh students (66.7%) live on campus, with more males than females in this category. Notably, professional degrees are more common among Kerala students (7.3%). Overall, educational attainment and campus residency patterns vary significantly by state and gender, with Kerala showing higher graduate enrolment, Karnataka favouring under-graduate education, and Andhra Pradesh showing a strong post-graduate and on-campus presence.

Table 5 presented a comprehensive gender-wise comparison of stress-induced eating behaviours, coping strategies, and related lifestyle factors among students across Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, using Pearson’s Chi-square test. In Karnataka and Kerala, most variables showed no statistically significant gender differences (p >0.05), except alcohol consumption in Karnataka (p = 0.005) and night eating syndrome in Kerala (p = 0.01). However, Andhra Pradesh revealed significant gender differences in multiple parameters, including the frequency of eating when stressed (p ≤ 0.0001), feelings after stress eating (p ≤0.0001), eating habit changes during high stress (p ≤0.0001), beliefs about calming foods (p ≤0.0001), alcohol use (p ≤0.0001), physical activity (p ≤0.0001), diet quality (p =0.019), caffeine use (p = 0.036), frequency of eating outside during stress (p ≤ 0.0001), types of craved foods (p = 0.011), alternative coping mechanisms (p ≤0.0001), and emotional responses like anxiety and sadness (p ≤0.0001). Notably, stress eating in response to academic workload, feeling lonely, and emotional states such as anxiety and sadness were significantly more reported among males in Andhra Pradesh. This indicates that students in Andhra Pradesh exhibit more gender-specific variations in stress-related behaviours compared to their counterparts in Karnataka and Kerala.

Table 6 examined gender-wise differences in health-related parameters and stress-associated physiological responses among students in all three states. While food allergies did not show significant gender variation in any state (p >0.05). In Andhra Pradesh, significant gender differences were observed in blood sugar changes during stress (p ≤0.0001), family history of metabolic disorders (p = 0.041), biochemical test abnormalities (p ≤0.0001), medication/supplement use (p = 0.033), and physical health effects due to stress eating (p = 0.01). Karnataka also reported significant differences by gender in family history of metabolic disorders (p = 0.017), biochemical abnormalities (p = 0.042), and medication/supplement use (p = 0.001). Kerala students showed a significant gender difference only in the presence of a family history of metabolic disorders (p = 0.003). These findings suggest that gender plays a more pronounced role in how stress and diet affect health among students in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, especially regarding physiological responses, diagnostic indicators, and treatment approaches.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlights notable differences influenced by gender in the eating habits of college students from Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh in relation to stress. Though the majority of the students acknowledged emotional and behavioural changes and a shift in eating habits during periods of stress, the changes were more intense among females from Kerala and Karnataka and males from Andhra Pradesh. The findings also showed that students from Andhra Pradesh had more significant stress-related behaviours along with health outcomes such as weight classification and functioning symptom clusters, including physical symptoms and coping strategies. This study draws attention to the significant influence of gender, psychological stress, and food habits in relation to the health of young adults. This also highlights the necessity of region-specific and gender-sensitive policies for the enhancement of emotional health and rational eating habits among college students. Further investigations could employ longitudinal methods with objective measurements of stress and eating habits for effective intervention and preventive policy development.