Fatma Elif EROĞLU, Büşra Göktürk AÇIKALIN, Özge Mengi ÇELİK
Gulhane Medical Journal - 2026;68(2):72-80
Aims: Shift-working healthcare professionals (SWHPs) are prone to gastrointestinal symptoms (GSs) due to irregular work schedules, unhealthy eating behavior, and psychological stress. This study examined the interrelationships among GSs, consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), acute stress, and reward-related eating (RRE) behavior in SWHPs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included SWHPs. Socio-demographic data, body mass index (BMI), and eating habits were recorded. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Screening Questionnaire of Highly Processed Food Consumption (sQ-HPF), Self-applied Acute Stress Scale for Healthcare Providers (EASE), and RRE Scale were used to assess relationships among the variables. Results: A total of 301 participants (mean age =32.9+/-8.1 years; 55.1% female) were included in the study. The mean BMI was 24.1+/-3.3 kg/m². GSRS total scores correlated positively with sQ-HPF (rho=0.208, p<0.001), EASE (rho=0.353, p<0.001), and RRE (rho=0.313, p<0.001). The EASE score was also positively correlated with all GSRS subdimensions (rho=0.202-0.370, all p<0.001). In multivariable regression analyses, sQ-HPF scores were predicted by age (beta=-0.145, p=0.011) and EASE (beta=0.136, p=0.017) (R²=0.202). RRE scores were predicted by EASE (beta=0.340, p<0.001) and BMI (beta=0.227, p<0.001) (R²=0.408). GSRS total score was predicted by gender (beta=-0.210, p<0.001), sQ-HPF (beta=0.137, p=0.008), RRE (beta=0.233, p<0.001), and EASE (beta=0.201, p<0.001) (R²=0.485). Conclusions: The findings indicate that GSs are significantly associated with UPF consumption, acute stress, and RRE among SWHPs. These results emphasize the importance of acute stress management in reducing unhealthy eating behaviors and related GSs in this population.
