Nutritional habits, academic stress, emotional well-being, and academic performance among university students in higher education
Keywords:
Nutrition, academic stress, university students, mental health, academic performanceAbstract
The increasing prevalence of academic stress, unhealthy dietary habits, emotional exhaustion, and psychological vulnerability among university students has generated growing concern regarding their impact on academic performance and overall well-being. This study analyzed the multidimensional relationship between nutrition, academic stress, emotional health, and educational achievement in higher education contexts. A qualitative documentary and analytical methodology was employed through the systematic review and critical interpretation of scientific literature published between 2019 and 2026. The research included peer-reviewed articles, cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews, and epidemiological investigations retrieved from international scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. The findings revealed that academic stress significantly influences dietary behaviors, contributing to emotional eating, irregular meal schedules, excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and decreased psychological resilience. Simultaneously, poor nutritional quality negatively affects cognitive functioning, concentration, memory, emotional regulation, and academic productivity. The evidence also demonstrated that healthy lifestyle practices, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, effective stress-management strategies, and adequate sleep hygiene, positively contribute to emotional stability and educational performance. Furthermore, the study identified that stress-related eating behaviors are influenced by psychosocial, cultural, and behavioral factors that shape students’ adaptive responses to academic pressure. The analysis emphasizes the importance of integrating nutrition education, mental health support, and preventive health promotion strategies within university systems. The study concludes that addressing nutrition and academic stress through interdisciplinary and institutional approaches may significantly improve students’ well-being, academic adaptation, emotional resilience, and sustainable educational success in contemporary higher education environments.
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