Social media addiction and stress as predictors of eating behaviour among undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study

Azmi, Hannah Sorfina and Ibrahim, Muhamad Ariff and Saad, Nurulwahida and Mohd Nazori, Mohd Nazir and Waisulqrnai, Siti Adibah (2025) Social media addiction and stress as predictors of eating behaviour among undergraduate students: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 9 (SUPP3) (9). pp. 326-333. E-ISSN 2600-8491

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Abstract

Introduction: The increasing influence of social media and stress on young adults has raised concerns regarding their impact on eating behaviour. University students, in particular, are vulnerable to poor coping strategies that may lead to disordered eating patterns, especially when exposed to high stress and excessive social media use. This study aimed to determine the levels of social media addiction, stress, and eating behaviour among undergraduate students at a Malaysian public university, and to examine their associations and predictive relationships. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 undergraduate students from all campuses using validated instruments: the Social Media Addiction Scale – Student Form (SMAS-SF), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ). Results: Correlation analysis showed that stress and social media dimensions such as virtual tolerance, virtual problem, and virtual information were significantly related to at least one type of eating behaviour dimension. Multiple regression analysis showed that stress (β = 0.103, p = 0.048) was a significant predictor of restrained eating. Virtual problem (β = 0.132, p = 0.034) was a significant predictor of emotional eating behaviour. Additionally, virtual tolerance (β = 0.141, p = 0.020), virtual information (β = 0.114, p = 0.042), and stress (β = -0.156, p = 0.002) were significant predictors of external eating behaviour. Conclusion: The study concludes that both social media addiction and stress play a role in shaping students' eating behaviours, with different components influencing restrained, emotional, and external eating in varying directions. These findings suggest the need for varied approaches when addressing unhealthy eating patterns among university students.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	social media additions, stress, eating behaviour, & university students.
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF636 Applied psychology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Biomedical Science (Effective:1st July 2011) Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Nutrition Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Physical Rehabilitation Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr Muhamad Ariff Ibrahim
Date Deposited:	19 Dec 2025 09:55
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2025 09:55
Queue Number:	2025-12-Q1009
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/125969

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