Online Program

335567
An assessment of obesity, stress, and sleep patterns of college students at the University of Guam


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Christina Jung, Student, School of Nursing and Health Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Erica Lowman, Student, School of Nursing and Health Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Yvette Paulino, PhD, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Jiana Salas, Student, School of Nursing and Health Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Joseph Taitano, Student, School of Nursing and Health Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Erin Escalera, School of Nursing and Health Science, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam
Introduction: Several epidemiologic studies have reported higher rates of obesity found in those who have minimal sleep as well as those with chronic life stressors of middle-aged individuals.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe obesity, stress, and sleep patterns of college students.

Methods: An estimated 10% of the University of Guam student population (n = 338), ≥18 years of age, were surveyed from August to December 2014.  Trained student researchers collected information on demographics, health behaviors (including stress and sleep patterns), and height and weight measurements to estimate obesity.  To compare between single and mixed ethnicities and males and females, statistical software was used to perform Pearson’s chi-square tests on dichotomous data, such as obesity (body mass index ³30 and body mass index <30), stress (severely stressed and not severely stressed), and sleep patterns (good quality and poor quality). Independent t-tests were used on continuous data, such as age and mean hours of sleep per night.

Results: Neither ethnic-specific, nor sex-specific differences were found to be statistically significant.  The mean age of students was 22.2 ± 3.9 years. Of the 338 students, 52.4% were females and 47.6% were males, and the majority (54.7%) was employed for wages.  The overall prevalence of obesity and severe stress was 19.2% and 25.4%, respectively.  The mean hours of sleep per night of all students was 6.1 ± .01.  Among obese students, the prevalence of severe stress and poor sleep was 23.1%, respectively.  The mean hours of sleep per night among obese students was 6.1± 1.7. 

Conclusion: The obesity prevalence found in this study was lower than the reported obesity prevalence of 27% among the general adult population of Guam, and may be explained by the young demographics of the student population. To prevent creeping obesity, the students would benefit from institution-wide continued education and innovative activities that promote health and wellness. The prevalence of stress and sleep quality in this study are among the first to be reported for Guam. To monitor stress and sleep quality patterns long-term, continued measurement of these variables are strongly encouraged.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe obesity, stress, and sleep patterns of college students.

Keyword(s): Asian and Pacific Islanders, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated in becoming an investigator in this study. I have collected data with the other investigators in studying 10% of the population of the college that I currently attend. I have also ran test using a statistical software in analyzing data that was collected from the questionnaires, surveys, and the performed anthropometry.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.