The Association Between Perceived Stress, Lifestyle and Dietary Behaviors, and Hypertension Among University Personnel
Abstract
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.
Full text article
References
Akinbule, O. O., Oladoyinbo, C. A., & Omonhinmin, H. (2018). Street food Consumption Score and Nutritional Status of Staff of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Nigerian Journal of Nutritional Sciences, 39(1), 96–103.
Akinbule, O., Ayotunde, A., Oladoyinbo, C., Adebukola, O., & Adebukola, O. (2021). Socio-economic Determinants, behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and Nutritional anthropometry of students of public tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Omiduran Adebukola and Omonhinmin Imoetin, 42(1), 9–21.
Akinbule, Oluwafunke O., Okekhian, K. L., Omidiran, A. T., Adenusi, S. A., Lasabi, O. T., & Oladoyinbo, C. A. (2022). Factors associated with hypertension in women of child-bearing age in Abeokuta. Human Nutrition & Metabolism, 30(200160), 200160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hnm.2022.200160
Akintunde, A. A., Akintunde, T. ’sade, & Opadijo, O. G. (2015). Knowledge of heart disease risk factors among workers in a Nigerian University: A call for concern. Nigerian Medical Journal: Journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 56(2), 91–95. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.150688
Araoye, M. O. (2004). Sample Size Determination in Research Methodology with Statistics for Health and Social Sciences. Nathadex s.
Baig, M., Gazzaz, Z. J., Gari, M. A., Al-Attallah, H. G., Al-Jedaani, K. S., Mesawa, A. T., & Al-Hazmi, A. A. (2015). Prevalence of obesity and hypertension among University students’ and their knowledge and attitude towards risk factors of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences Quarterly, 31(4), 816–820. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.314.7953
Bohmann, P., Stein, M. J., Amadou, A., Baurecht, H., Fervers, B., Fontvieille, E., Freisling, H., Friedenreich, C., Konzok, J., Peruchet-Noray, L., Leitzmann, M. F., Sedlmeier, A. M., & Weber, A. (2025). WHO guidelines on waist circumference and physical activity and their joint association with cancer risk. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59(6), 360–366. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108708
Cohen, S., ter Stege, J. A., Weijsenfeld, A. M., van der Plas, A., Kuijpers, T. W., Reiss, P., Scherpbier, H. J., Haverman, L., & Pajkrt, D. (2015). Health-related quality of life in perinatally HIV-infected children in the Netherlands. AIDS Care, 27(10), 1279–1288. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2015.1050986
Colecraft, E. K., Asante, M., Christian, A. K., & Adu-Afarwuah, S. (2018). Sociodemographic characteristics, dietary practices, and nutritional status of adults with hypertension in a semi-rural community in the Eastern Region of Ghana. International Journal of Hypertension, 2018, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2815193
Crichton, G. E., Elias, M. F., & Torres, R. V. (2016). Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are associated with poorer cognitive function in individuals with type 2 diabetes: the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study. The British Journal of Nutrition, 115(8), 1397–1405. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114516000325
Cuschieri, S., Vassallo, J., Calleja, N., Pace, N., & Mamo, J. (2017). The effects of socioeconomic determinants on hypertension in a cardiometabolic at-risk European country. International Journal of Hypertension, 2017, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7107385
Daniels, S. R. (2019). Understanding the Global Prevalence of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr, 73(12), 1133–1134. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.333
Egbi, O. G., Rotifa, S., & Jumbo, J. (2015). Prevalence of hypertension and its correlates among employees of a tertiary hospital in Yenagoa, Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine, 14(1), 8–17. https://doi.org/10.4103/1596-3519.148709
Global Nutrition Report (2022). 2022 Global Nutrition Report: Stronger commitments for greater action. Retrieved from: https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/africa/western-africa/nigeria/
Justamente, I., Raudeniece, J., Ozolina-Moll, L., Guadalupe-Grau, A., & Reihmane, D. (2020). Comparative analysis of the effects of daily eating habits and physical activity on anthropometric parameters in elementary school children in Latvia: Pach study. Nutrients, 12(12), 3818. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123818
Kang, S.-H., Kim, S.-H., Cho, J. H., Yoon, C.-H., Hwang, S.-S., Lee, H.-Y., Youn, T.-J., Chae, I.-H., & Kim, C.-H. (2019). Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Korea. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 10970. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46965-4
Karlsson, J., Persson, L. O., Sjöström, L., & Sullivan, M. (2000). Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) in obese men and women. Results from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 24(12), 1715–1725. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801442
Khajedaluee, M., Hassannia, T., Rezaee, A., Ziadi, M., & Dadgarmoghaddam, M. (2016). The prevalence of hypertension and its relationship with demographic factors, biochemical, and anthropometric indicators: A population-based study. ARYA Atherosclerosis, 12(6), 259–265.
Kishore, J., Gupta, N., Kohli, C., & Kumar, N. (2016). Prevalence of hypertension and determination of its risk factors in rural Delhi. International Journal of Hypertension, 2016, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7962595
Kubota, Y., Iso, H., Sawada, N., Tsugane, S., & JPHC Study Group. (2016). Association of breakfast intake with incident stroke and coronary heart disease: The japan public health center-based study: The japan public health center-based study. Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation, 47(2), 477–481. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.011350
Lee, H. J., Jang, J., Lee, S. A., Choi, D.-W., & Park, E.-C. (2019). Association between breakfast frequency and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk: A cross-sectional study of KNHANES data, 2014-2016. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(10), 1853. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101853
Liew, S. J., Lee, J. T., Tan, C. S., Koh, C. H. G., Van Dam, R., & Müller-Riemenschneider, F. (2019). Sociodemographic factors in relation to hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in a multi-ethnic Asian population: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 9(5), e025869. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025869
Momin, M. H., Desai, V. K., & Kavishwar, A. B. (2012). Study of socio-demographic factors affecting prevalence of hypertension among bank employees of Surat City. Indian Journal of Public Health, 56(1), 44–48. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-557X.96970
Obarisiagbon, O., Osayi, E., & Wagbatsoma, D. (2018). Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypertension among Workers of an Oil Palm Company in Edo State, Nigeria. Nigeria. J Community Med Prim Heal Care, 30(2), 62–74.
Odunaiya, N. A., Louw, Q. A., & Grimmer, K. A. (2015). Are lifestyle cardiovascular disease risk factors associated with pre-hypertension in 15-18 years rural Nigerian youth? A cross sectional study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 15(1), 144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-015-0134-x
Ofori-Asenso, R., Owen, A. J., & Liew, D. (2019). Skipping breakfast and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death: A systematic review of prospective cohort studies in primary prevention settings. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, 6(3), 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd6030030
Okubadejo, N. U., Ozoh, O. B., Ojo, O. O., Akinkugbe, A. O., Odeniyi, I. A., Adegoke, O., Bello, B. T., & Agabi, O. P. (2019). Prevalence of hypertension and blood pressure profile amongst urban-dwelling adults in Nigeria: a comparative analysis based on recent guideline recommendations. Clinical Hypertension, 25(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40885-019-0112-1
Oladoyinbo, C. A., Abiodun, A. M., Oyalowo, M. O., Obaji, I., Oyelere, A. M., Akinbule, O. O., & Sobo, A. A. (2020). Risk factors for diabetes mellitus and hypertension among artisans in Ogun state, Nigeria. Nutrition & Food Science, 50(4), 695–710. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs-01-2019-0007
Oladoyinbo, C. A., Abiodun, A. M., Akinbule, O. O., Okeke, I. U., & John, E. P. (2019). Modifiable Risk Factors for Overweight and Obesity among Traders in Abeokuta South Local Government Area , Ogun State. Afr. J. Biomed. Res, 22, 127–133.
Onyango, M. J., Kombe, I., Nyamongo, D. S., & Mwangi, M. (2017). A study to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among employees working at a call centre Nairobi Kenya. The Pan African Medical Journal, 27, 178. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2017.27.178.13073
Park, S.-E., So, W.-Y., Kang, Y.-S., & Yang, J.-H. (2023). Relationship between perceived stress, obesity, and hypertension in Korean adults and older adults. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162271
Paugh, S. (2005). Dietary Habits And Nutritional Knowledge Of College Athletes. California University of Pennsylvania.
PloS One Editors. (2023). Expression of Concern: Magnitude and risk factors for hypertension among public servants in Tigray, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. PloS One, 18(1), e0279946. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279946
Ruan, Y., Huang, Y., Zhang, Q., Qin, S., Du, X., & Sun, Y. (2018). Association between dietary patterns and hypertension among Han and multi-ethnic population in southwest China. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1106. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6003-7
Singh, S., Shankar, R., & Singh, G. P. (2017). Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension: A cross-sectional study in urban Varanasi. International Journal of Hypertension, 2017, 5491838. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/5491838
Ajayi, I. O., Sowemimo, I. O., Akpa, O.M., & Ossai, N. E. (2016). Prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among residents of Ibadan-North Local Government Area of Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Cardiology, 13(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.4103/0189-7969.165168
Stults-Kolehmainen, M. A., & Sinha, R. (2014). The effects of stress on physical activity and exercise. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 44(1), 81–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0090-5
Whelton, P. K., Carey, R. M., Aronow, W. S., Casey, D. E., Jr, Collins, K. J., Dennison Himmelfarb, C., DePalma, S. M., Gidding, S., Jamerson, K. A., Jones, D. W., MacLaughlin, E. J., Muntner, P., Ovbiagele, B., Smith, S. C., Jr, Spencer, C. C., Stafford, R. S., Taler, S. J., Thomas, R. J., Williams, K. A., Sr, Williamson, J. D., … Wright, J. T., Jr (2018). 2017ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex.: 1979), 71(6), 1269–1324. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000066
Willett, W., Rockström, J., Loken, B., Springmann, M., Lang, T., Vermeulen, S., Garnett, T., Tilman, D., DeClerck, F., Wood, A., Jonell, M., Clark, M., Gordon, L. J., Fanzo, J., Hawkes, C., Zurayk, R., Rivera, J. A., De Vries, W., Majele Sibanda, L., … Murray, C. J. L. (2019). Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems. Lancet, 393(10170), 447–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4
World Health Organization (2008). Waist Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratio Report of a WHO Expert Consultation. (2008). World Health Organization.
Yoon, E. S., So, W.-Y., & Jang, S. (2023). Association between perceived psychological stress and exercise behaviors: A cross-sectional study using the Survey of National Physical Fitness. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 13(10), 2059. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13102059
Yusuf, S., Joseph, P., Rangarajan, S., Islam, S., Mente, A., Hystad, P., Brauer, M., Kutty, V. R., Gupta, R., Wielgosz, A., AlHabib, K. F., Dans, A., Lopez-Jaramillo, P., Avezum, A., Lanas, F., Oguz, A., Kruger, I. M., Diaz, R., Yusoff, K., … Dagenais, G. (2020). Modifiable risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 155 722 individuals from 21 high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries (PURE): a prospective cohort study. Lancet, 395(10226), 795–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32008-2
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Oluwafunke Akinbule, Damilola Ogunyinka, Sultan Adenusi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.