Knowledge of Balanced Diet and Awareness of Co-Curriculum Activities on Student Mental Health

Abstract

The current pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of students with the implementation of new norms in daily practice that also changed the landscape of teaching and learning activities today. This study which utilized quantitative research methods with survey design involved a total of 352 students at the Islamic University College of Melaka. Questionnaires adapted from the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) instrument as well as nutritional practices and physical activities by Burton (1999) were used to measure students' Depression, Anxiety and Stress. For the first hypothesis, the result of Pearson Correlation analysis found that there was no relationship between knowledge of balanced food intake and students' mental health (r = -.002, k > .05). Next, the second hypothesis found that there was a relationship b etween student’s awareness of co -curricular activities on students' mental health. (r = -.112, k < .05). The results of the study clearly show that the level of knowledge on balanced food intake has no correlation with mental health. However, knowledge of physical activity does correlate with mental health. A balanced diet is very important for energy and fitness. Therefore, this clearly shows the need to emphasize the level of awareness of students on a balanced diet. It ensures a good level of mental health because they are more energetic, and can perform physical activities more effectively while adhering to the practice of new norms that have been set.