Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the level of psychoemotional stress and its association with eating behavior in the town of Turkestan, Southern Kazakhstan. Turkestan region is considered as one of the most unfavourable regions in Kazakhstan with poor ecologic conditions. Altogether, 637 individuals from the population served by the policlinic of the International Kazakh-Turkish University participated in a cross-sectional study. The level of stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 questionnaire. Eating behavior was assessed using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression models and multivariable linear models were applied to study associations between stress and eating behavior. The prevalence of light, moderate and intensive stress was 38.5 %, 50.2 % and 11.3 %, respectively. The prevalence of restrictive, emotional and external types of eating behavior was 30.3 %, 37.5 % and 32.2 %, respectively. We observed positive and statistically significant association between the level of stress and external type of eating behavior. Moreover, eating behavior was also associated with gender, age and education.