Depressive Symptoms, Dietary Behaviors, and Lifestyle Factors among Female Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Female university students may experience depressive symptoms due to academic, social, financial, and lifestyle pressures. Objective: To assess depressive symptoms alongside anthropometric status, dietary behaviors, nutrient intake, and lifestyle factors among Pakistani undergraduates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 female undergraduate students aged 18–27 years. Anthropometric measurements, sociodemographic and lifestyle information, dietary habits, a 24-hour dietary recall, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were collected. Nutrient intake was estimated using Windiet® 2005. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and Spearman rank correlations were used for ordinal/continuous associations. A multivariable linear regression model examined independent associations with BDI score. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Mean age was 20.68±1.32 years, BMI was 21.81±4.41 kg/m², and BDI score was 15.83±8.25. Normal BMI was observed in 54.7% of participants, while 22.7% were underweight, 18.7% overweight and 4.0% obese. BDI score was positively correlated with meal-skipping frequency (ρ=0.248, p=0.002), stress frequency (ρ=0.308, p<0.001), and poorer self-rated mental health (ρ=0.359, p<0.001). BMI was not associated with BDI score (ρ=−0.019, p=0.817). Selenium intake showed a weak inverse unadjusted correlation with BDI score (ρ=−0.171, p=0.037), but this association was not retained after adjustment. The regression model explained 16.6% of the variance in BDI scores; stress and meal-skipping frequency remained significant independent correlates. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were associated more consistently with stress and meal-skipping behavior than with BMI or most measured dietary variables. These findings support a broader student health approach incorporating psychological well-being and regular eating patterns. Longitudinal studies with repeated dietary assessment are needed to clarify directionality and causality.