The Association Between Perceived Stress, Lifestyle and Dietary Behaviors, and Hypertension Among University Personnel

Background: Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption, are well-established risk factors for hypertension. Aims: This study aimed to assess the association of perceived stress, lifestyle and dietary behaviors with hypertension among university personnel. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 250 randomly selected university workers was conducted. Data on perceived stress, eating behavior, dietary patterns, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and physical activity levels were collected employing validated instruments. Blood pressure and nutritional anthropometric measurements were performed using standard procedures. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A Pearson’s Chi-square, correlation and logistic regression analyses were conducted. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median age of the respondents was 40 years, with median values for waist circumference, height, and weight of 90.0 cm, 1.69 m, and 69.0 kg, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 49.6%, with overweight (26.8%), abdominal obesity (32.8%), alcohol consumption (26.0%), smoking (15.2%), and low physical activity levels (64.4%) also being common. The majority of respondents (92.8 %) reported moderate stress levels, and only one-fifth exhibited adequate dietary habits. Cognitive restraint and emotional eating were prevalent, with high consumption of fried and sugary snacks (70.0%) and carbonated drinks (60.4 %), along with frequent meal skipping. In the logistic regression model, age, body mass index, quantity of alcohol consumed, and cognitive restraint eating behavior were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with hypertension. Conclusions: The prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and hypertension is high among university personnel. The findings highlight the critical need for interventions that target stress reduction, dietary modifications, and physical activity promotion are crucial to mitigate the burden of hypertension in this population. Keywords: Hypertension Risk; Lifestyle Behavior; Eating Behavior; Perceived Stress.