Dados do Trabalho

Título

Food insecurity associated with evening types: cross-sectional study with university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introdução

The chronotype, which reflects the interindividual differences in sleep patterns and sleep wake-cycles and activities, is linked to well-being and preference for morning and evening. Individuals, especially university students, with a tendency to evening, have been investigated because they are more prone to sleep disorders and physiological and cognitive changes due to academic demands and social life. In addition, the social restriction caused by COVID-19 pandemic altered the student’s lifestyle of and deteriorated the situation of food insecurity, contributing to an increase in the development of social inequities and evasion. Concerns about uncertainties regarding socioeconomic conditions and health contributed substantially to the worsening of sleep patterns and food of these individuals. However, knowledge is limited about the relationship between chronotype and food security.

Objetivo

To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity, to know the chronotype of university students and their association in the pandemic period.

Métodos

Cross-sectional study at a federal university located in the Midwest region of Brazil. An instrument for sociodemographic characterization was applied, the Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire by Horne and Österberg was used, evening chronotypic trends were considered scores between 16–41 points, and Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA), scores between 1-8 points were considered Food insecurity

Resultados

This study included 138 students. The prevalence of food insecurity was 49.3% and of university students with a tendency to evening 50.7%, who had a 2.46 times higher chance of food insecurity (95% CI 1.02-5.50, p=0.04). It is concluded that the university students are in greater vulnerability to food insecurity.

Conclusões

The findings reveal the need to develop actions aimed at sleep hygiene and adequate and low-cost feeding strategies for this vulnerable population

Palavras -chave

University students; Food security; Sleep hygiene