Determining the Relationship Between Test Anxiety and Nutrition in High School 3rd and 4th Grade: A Case of Anatolian High School

Abstract

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the body mass index (BMI) and emotional eating increasing with test stress in students in high school 3rd and 4th grade. Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 117 students studying in the 3rd and 4th grades at an Anatolian high school in Istanbul. The Revised Test Anxiety Scale, which determines the level of test anxiety of students, and the Turkish Emotional Eating Scale, which questions the demographic information and emotional nutritional status, were applied. Results: Of the 117 students who participated in the study, 51 were 3rd grade and 66 were 4th grade. While there was a statistically positive relationship between test anxiety and emotional eating, there was no statistical relationship between test anxiety and emotional eating and BMI. Given gender, female students showed more test anxiety and emotional eating behavior than boys; however, male students' mean BMI was higher than female students. Considering the class, emotional eating and test anxiety were higher in high school 4th grade, whereas high BMI was more common in high school 3rd grade. Conclusion: To prevent the emotional eating behaviors of high school 3rd and 4th grade, test anxiety should be at the desired level. Thus, dieting beside therapy was necessary for physical development and school success. More studies are required to determine the effect of emotional food associated with test anxiety on BMI.