Nutritional Behaviour and Perceptions on Staying Well during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic the Experiences of Students from a University in Birmingham, UK

Rabiee-Khan, Fatemeh and Biernat, Karolina (2021) Nutritional Behaviour and Perceptions on Staying Well during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic the Experiences of Students from a University in Birmingham, UK. Acta Scientific Nutritional Health, 5 (8). pp. 3-9. ISSN 2582-1423

Preview

Text ASNH-05-0901.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (512kB)

Abstract

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictive measures on the health and well-being of the general population have recently been highlighted. This paper emerges from a larger study on the impact of a COVID-19 on health and wellbeing of university students in Birmingham, UK. It focuses on the nutritional aspects and students’ perceptions of behaviours that helped them to stay well during a time of uncertainty. A cross sectional study design has been used and data was collected during May and June 2020, via an anonymised online questionnaire. 1784 students completed the questionnaire (F = 1360, M = 418 and Non-binary = 14) with the age range of 18 - 53 (Mean = 25, SD ± 8) years.

Findings indicate a major negative impact of covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on students’ financial situation, with almost 50% stating decreased in their paid employment. This could have been the reasons for an increased consumption of food out of boredom and anxiety (61.8%), increased purchasing food out of fear (23.8%), consumption of more canned fruits and vegetables (18.6%) and being dependent on social protection measures related to food (10%).

The positive impact however was more home cooking and baking (72.4%), more consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables (50.4%), and an awareness of what to do to stay well.

Item Type:	Article
Dates:	Date Event 1 July 2021 Accepted 6 July 2021 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Covid-19; Food Behaviour; Health and Well-being; University Students; Lockdown
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-06 - allied health > CAH02-06-02 - nutrition and dietetics CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-01 - biosciences > CAH03-01-02 - biology (non-specific)
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > Centre for Life and Sport Sciences (C-LASS)
Depositing User:	Fatemeh Rabiee-Khan
Date Deposited:	10 Aug 2021 11:19
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2022 11:31
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/12034

Actions (login required)

View Item