The Correlation Between Nursing Student Stress and Dietary Habits

Abstract

Stress, defined as a state of mental or physical strain in relation to internal or external stimuli (Merriam-Webster, 2019), is a common emotion that may be taken for granted. While in small doses, stress can help propel critical thinking and enhance problem solving techniques- in excessive doses, however, stress is detrimental to general health. According to the Centre for Studies on Human Stress (2017), there are two significant forms of stress: Acute and Chronic. While acute, “short-term” stress is more likely to enhance reaction time and capabilities overall, chronic stress is notably longer-term and more consistently leads to co-morbidities, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and depression or anxiety (Centre for Studies on Human Stress, 2017), While chronic stress has been seen to cause more enduring health-issues, acute stress too has been seen to have negative effects on health, including diarrhea or constipation, headaches, fatigue, upset stomach and weight loss or gain (Centre for Studies on Human Stress, 2017).