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.

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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.

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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.

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Data Status & Analysis

 

At this stage, data collection for both the questionnaire and interviews has been completed. Right now, the team is conducting data cleaning and analysis for both components of the study. Quantitative analysis is being carried out in STATA, focusing on relationships between stress, ACEs, extracurricular load, gastrointestinal symptoms, and academic performance. Qualitative interview data are being analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in coping strategies and support experiences. Findings from both methods will be integrated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how stress and early-life experiences relate to undergraduate GI health.