Reflections of academic anxiety on diet and eating behaviors: the relationship between exam stress and nutrition in young adults

Aims: Test anxiety/stress may influence eating behaviors and diet quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between exam stress and eating attitudes, behaviors, and diet quality in young adults. Methods: This study was conducted with 557 young adults via a voluntary sampling method via online platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.) between April and May 2025. The survey form used to collect data consisted of four sections: an introductory information form covering sociodemographic characteristics, the Westside Test Anxiety Scale, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 and AMOS 24. Independent samples t tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis were used. Results: Most of the participants exhibited normal eating attitudes (74.3%) and moderate Mediterranean diet characteristics (57.6%). Compared with those with normal eating behaviors, those with abnormal eating behaviors had significantly lower MEDAS scores (6.2±2.13 vs. 6.9±2.36, p=0.003) and significantly higher Westside Test Anxiety Inventory scores (33.0±9.30 vs. 28.4±9.12, p