Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students
Introduction: Constipation is one of the most common health problems among university students. This study aims to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake, physical activity, and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students. Methods: The stud...
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| Format: | Article |
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Persatuan Pemakanan Malaysia
2021
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96098/ |
| _version_ | 1848862295032070144 |
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| author | Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura Mohamed Yasin, Nor Qubbul Ain |
| author_facet | Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura Mohamed Yasin, Nor Qubbul Ain |
| author_sort | Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: Constipation is one of the most common health problems among university students. This study aims to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake, physical activity, and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students. Methods: The study was a crosssectional study and the participants comprised of 140 undergraduate students (27.9% males and 72.1% females). A 3-day dietary record was obtained to determine energy, fibre and fluid intakes, while physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Stress level and constipation were assessed using the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale and Agachan’s Constipation Score System Questionnaire, respectively. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Multivariate linear regression analysis was done to determine factors that were associated with constipation. Results: Mean age of the participants was 20.9±1.5 years old and majority were third year students (32.1%). Mean intakes of energy, dietary fibre, and fluids per day were 1567±438kcal, 5.6±3.5g, and 2301±946ml, respectively. The median score for physical activity was 1135.5 METminutes/week. Most of the participants (77.1%) had a high or a very high stress level and 64.3% had slight constipation. Age, dietary fibre, fluid, energy, and perceived stress scale explained a significant amount of the variance in the occurrence of constipation [F(6.133)=16.373, p<0.001, R2=0.425, R2 Adjusted=0.399]. Conclusion: Age, energy, fluid and fibre intakes, as well as perceived stress were factors that were associated with constipation among undergraduate students. Therefore, undergraduate students should be encouraged to practise a healthy lifestyle to modify these identified risk factors. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:14:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-96098 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:14:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Persatuan Pemakanan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-960982023-02-24T04:04:06Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96098/ Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura Mohamed Yasin, Nor Qubbul Ain Introduction: Constipation is one of the most common health problems among university students. This study aims to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake, physical activity, and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students. Methods: The study was a crosssectional study and the participants comprised of 140 undergraduate students (27.9% males and 72.1% females). A 3-day dietary record was obtained to determine energy, fibre and fluid intakes, while physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Stress level and constipation were assessed using the Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale and Agachan’s Constipation Score System Questionnaire, respectively. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Multivariate linear regression analysis was done to determine factors that were associated with constipation. Results: Mean age of the participants was 20.9±1.5 years old and majority were third year students (32.1%). Mean intakes of energy, dietary fibre, and fluids per day were 1567±438kcal, 5.6±3.5g, and 2301±946ml, respectively. The median score for physical activity was 1135.5 METminutes/week. Most of the participants (77.1%) had a high or a very high stress level and 64.3% had slight constipation. Age, dietary fibre, fluid, energy, and perceived stress scale explained a significant amount of the variance in the occurrence of constipation [F(6.133)=16.373, p<0.001, R2=0.425, R2 Adjusted=0.399]. Conclusion: Age, energy, fluid and fibre intakes, as well as perceived stress were factors that were associated with constipation among undergraduate students. Therefore, undergraduate students should be encouraged to practise a healthy lifestyle to modify these identified risk factors. Persatuan Pemakanan Malaysia 2021 Article PeerReviewed Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura and Mohamed Yasin, Nor Qubbul Ain (2021) Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 27 (2). 247 - 257. ISSN 1394-035X https://www.nutriweb.org.my/mjn/2021.php 10.31246/mjn-2019-0099 |
| spellingShingle | Md. Yusop, Nor Baizura Mohamed Yasin, Nor Qubbul Ain Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title | Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title_full | Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title_fullStr | Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title_short | Association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| title_sort | association between dietary intake, physical activity and stress level with constipation among undergraduate students |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96098/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96098/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96098/ |