Gastrointestinal Health Survey of Dalian College Students

Against the backdrop of a clear trend toward younger-onset digestive health problems, college students, after leaving family care and with insufficient self-management skills as well as increasing academic and social pressure, commonly engage in irregular eating habits, staying up late, emotional fluctuations, and inappropriate medication use. These behaviors contribute to a high prevalence of gastrointestinal discomfort, which may increase the risk of chronic gastrointestinal diseases in the long run. Gastrointestinal health among college students directly affects their academic performance, quality of life, and physical and mental health development. Currently, large-scale, multi-factor surveys on gastrointestinal health among college students in Northeast China remain scarce, and modifiable risk factors are not yet clearly defined. This study focuses on university students in Dalian, conducting a cross-sectional epidemiological survey to clarify the current status and key influencing factors, and to provide scientific support for campus health management and the development of health promotion strategies.

Numerous epidemiological surveys at home and abroad have shown that digestive diseases rank among the leading causes of hospitalization among college students, with a persistently high detection rate of gastrointestinal discomfort. Abnormal dietary patterns, disrupted sleep rhythms, accumulated psychological stress, and inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, and heartburn by disrupting the gut microbiota, affecting gut-brain axis signaling, and inducing low-grade inflammation.

The gut microbiota is a core component in maintaining gastrointestinal function. Diet, sleep, emotions, and medication use can significantly alter the structure and diversity of the microbiota, thereby affecting intestinal barrier function, motility, and visceral sensation. Existing studies have indicated that skipping breakfast, binge eating, insufficient sleep, emotional distress, and antibiotic overuse are important risk factors for gastrointestinal discomfort in young populations. However, most previous studies have been limited by small sample sizes, insufficient regional representativeness, and lack of systematic analysis of gender differences and multi-factor interactions, leaving a notable gap in high-quality cross-sectional data for college students in Dalian.

Building on existing research, this study expands the sample size, uses standardized questionnaires and rigorous statistical methods to systematically analyze modifiable risk factors, fill the gap in regional data, and provide a basis for the development of targeted health interventions.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged between 18 and 25 years, and currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a university in Dalian, China.
• Voluntarily participates in the study and provides online informed consent.
• Able to independently complete and submit the entire questionnaire.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with severe organic gastrointestinal diseases or those who have undergone gastrointestinal surgery recently.
• Individuals on long-term medication that affects gastrointestinal function.
• Questionnaires that are incomplete, contain logical contradictions, or are submitted more than once by the same participant.