The aim of this study was to assess the current perceived stress levels and their relationship with diet and lifestyle behaviours in a sample of Irish higher education students. Stress levels of students were measured using the validated Perceived Stress Scale-10 - (PSS-10), which was completed along with validated measures assessing dietary quality (short-form food frequency questionnaire), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Alcohol Consumption - AUDIT- C), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index - PSQI), and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form - IPAQ-SF). There was a statistically significant, small correlation found between PSS-10 scores and PSQI scores (sleep quality) (r(672) = 0.195, p < 0.001), and a negative correlation between PSS-10 scores and diet quality (r(682) = −0.104, p = 0.006), fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption (r(676) = −0.158, p < 0.001), and physical activity scores (r(665) = −0.160, p < 0.001).
Stress levels of higher education students during COVID-19 and their correlation with diet quality and lifestyle behaviours