Methodology Overview

This study used a mixed-methods approach to better understand how stress, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), extracurricular involvement, and diet relate to gastrointestinal (GI) health and academic performance in college students. Data were collected through surveys and follow-up interviews to capture both quantitative trends and qualitative insights.

​

​

Participants

Participants were undergraduate college students enrolled at the University of Maryland. Recruitment efforts resulted in a total of 599 survey responses, of which 439 were fully completed and included in the dataset. The study focused exclusively on undergraduate students to ensure consistency in academic and environmental context.

​

​

Data Collection

Data were collected primarily through online surveys administered using Qualtrics. The survey included measures assessing stress, ACEs, gastrointestinal symptoms, extracurricular involvement, dietary patterns, and academic experiences.
To supplement the survey data, interviews were conducted with a subset of participants to gain deeper insight into lived experiences and provide context to the quantitative findings.

​

​

Data Status & Analysis

At this stage, data have been collected but have not yet been cleaned or analyzed. Data cleaning and statistical analysis are planned for the upcoming semester. Future analysis will focus on identifying relationships between stress, ACEs, extracurricular load, GI symptoms, and academic performance, as well as integrating qualitative interview findings to enrich interpretation