Psychological Impact on the Eating Behaviors of University Students

Unhealthy dietary habits are among the major risk factors for chronic diseases, particularly if adopted during the early years of adulthood. They are becoming more frequent due to the nutritional transition that is affecting populations across developing countries where traditional healthy diets are being progressively replaced by more westernized dietary patterns. Students generally develop unhealthy eating habits during their stay at the university. University Students’ eating behavior seemed to be moderated by university characteristics, such as residency, student societies, university lifestyle, and exams. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore, how such factors psychologically influence Sri Lankan university students’ eating behavior,using a qualitative research design. Applying a semi-structured interview method, six interviews were conducted with 2 male and 4 female university students selected under the convenient sampling method from the University of Peradeniya. All the collected data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Results showed that after the transition from secondary school to university, when independence increases, students are continuously challenged to make healthy food choices. Students eating behavior is reported to be influenced by individual factors (e.g. taste preferences, self-discipline, time and convenience), their social networks (e.g. (lack of) parental control, friends and peers), and physical environment (e.g. availability and accessibility, appeal and prices of food products).