Title:

Perceived Stress and Metabolic Syndrome in Undergraduate Students

Objective: Previous studies have shown elevated rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in college students. Identifying modifiable risk factors for MetS may be helpful in reducing the burden of disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between MetS and perceived stress (PS) in participants of the College Health and Assessment Survey (CHANAS). Methods: Data were collected a between 2012-2018 (n=4077, 70.0% female) at a mid-sized northeastern university as part of the on-going, cross sectional CHANAS study. PS was measured using Cohen’s 10-item questionnaire via an online survey; after stratifying by gender PS scores were categorized into quartiles. MetS criteria were determined from measured waist circumference, blood glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol in a fasted state. After excluding participants with missing data, ANCOVA was used to examine differences between PS quartiles in all measured MetS parameters (n=3416); BMI, smoking status, and steps/day served as covariates. Data are presented as means±SD. Results: The average PS score was 14.2±6.6 and 16.7±6.6 for males and females, respectively. The average number of MetS criteria met was 0.71±0.82. No significant group differences in any MetS parameters were observed by PS quartiles for men or women (all p>.05). Conclusion: Our research did not observe a relationship between MetS or any of the individual criteria with PS in a sample of college students. Further research is needed to examine the long-term effects of stress on the development of MetS in the emerging adult population. Funding Sources: New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Project 1010738.

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