Burnout status among Health and Non-Health Sciences students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nutritional perspective

Abstract

Objective The study aimed to assess the factors associated with burnout among university students studying online during the COVID-19 lockdown, with a focus on nutrition and lifestyle habits. Methods This cross-sectional web-based study was conducted with university students in T & uuml;rkiye. Demographic characteristics, dietary habits, dietary supplement usage, the Multidimensional COVID-19 scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Scale of university students were questioned with an online survey. Results A total of 747 students (health science faculties:68.9% and non-health faculties:31.1%) participated in the study. Non-health sciences students had higher median scores of emotional exhaustion (17 vs 15), cynicism (13 vs 10), and total Multi-Dimensional COVID-19 scale (84 vs 80) than health sciences students (respectively; p =0.001, p <0.001, p <0.001). The emotional exhaustion score was positively associated with thoughts about COVID-19 (R=0.266, R=0.266, p <0.001) and negatively with paying attention to diet (R= R=-1,142, p =0.005). Students who consumed meat, eggs, and legumes at least once a day had lower emotional exhaustion (R=-0.925, R=-0.925, p =0.029), cynicism scores (R=-0.804, R=-0.804, p =0.025), and higher academic efficacy (R= R= 0.550, p =0.034). Consumption of milk and dairy products at least once a day was negatively related to emotional exhaustion (R=-0.844, R=-0.844, p =0.033) and cynicism (R=-0.817, R=-0.817, p =0.015). Students who consumed at least five daily portions of fruit and vegetables had greater academic efficacy (R=0.669, R=0.669, p =0.015). Conclusion Faculty, grade, thoughts about COVID-19, precautions taken related to COVID-19, and paying attention to diet are the factors that affect students' burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health education and adopting healthy eating habits are beneficial for combating burnout in critical periods such as pandemics.