The relationship between quality of life and perceived stress level of university staff and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 epidemic period

Due to the worldwide spread of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global epidemic. It has been seen that this epidemic can completely change the whole order and habits of individuals in their daily lives. This research was conducted to examine the relationship between the nutritional habits, quality of life and perceived stress of individuals working at the university during COVID-19. Between January 2021 and March 2021, 172 people from the academic and administrative staff of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University were included in the study by online survey method on a voluntary basis. A general information form, in which demographic characteristics, some habits during the pandemic and nutritional habits were questioned, and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS), SF-36 Quality of Life Scale and Perceived Stress Scale were administered to the participants. Women constitute 50.6% of the participants. There is no statistical difference between the genders of the participants and their MEDAS scores (p>0.05). There is a statistical difference between the genders of the participants and their SF-36, PSS scores (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the physical function sub-dimension between the participants BMI and SF-36 score (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a significant difference between the physical activity change status of the participants during the pandemic and their SF-36 scores in the physical role sub-dimension (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the participants' weight gain during the pandemic process and their SF-36 scores in the sub-dimensions of physical role and general health (p<0.05). It was observed that there was a statistically significant difference between the participants' weight gain during the pandemic process and their PSS scores, in the sub-dimensions of perception of stress/discomfort, and in the PSS total score (p<0.05). It was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in the sub-dimensions of physical role, emotional role, vitality, mental health, bodily pain and general health according to the participants' change in nutritional habits during the pandemic and their SF-36 scores (p<0.05). The pandemic brought by COVID-19 affects the quality of life of individuals in many ways. In order to be less affected by this process, help from health professionals such as a dietitian should be sought.