PERSONALITY TRAITS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIETARY HABITS AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

The rise of chronic diseases among young adults underscores the imperative need to investigate the intricate relationships between personality and dietary habits. This study investigates the relationship between personality traits and dietary habits among undergraduate nursing students in a tertiary institution in Edo State, utilizing a quantitative descriptive design. A total of 244 questionnaires were distributed, achieving a 100% response rate. The study found that 32.8% of respondents identified as extroverted, while other traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness each accounted for 16.4%.The results revealed disturbing trends in students dietary habits including frequently missed breakfast (77.5%), consumed fast food (65.25%), and regularly drank carbonated or sugary beverages (85.2%), with only 20.5% eating fruits and vegetables often. Key factors influencing these habits included loneliness, academic stress, lack of cooking skills, and limited nutritional knowledge. Results highlighted a significant association between the students' personality traits and their dietary habits (p<0.05). The findings underscore critical implications for nursing practice and education, emphasizing the need for improved nutritional education and health promotion strategies among nursing students. Tailored nutrition education which takes into account individual trait differences to modify the dietary habits. Limitations included potential biases in self-reported data. Future studies are required to identify persons who are at risk of diet related diseases to inform the development of appropriate dietary interventions bearing the mind the personality traits they exhibit.
Keywords: Personality Traits, Dietary Habits, Nursing Students, Health Promotion