Three-component model analysis of mental burden, food intake behavior, physical activity engagement in South Asian higher-education youth: A relational distribution study

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of psychological strain among higher-education youth in South Asia has emerged as a critical public health concern, closely intertwined with lifestyle behaviors such as dietary intake and physical activity engagement. This study develops and analytically evaluates a three-component model integrating mental burden, nutritional behavior, and physical activity participation to examine their relational distribution within university populations. The research is grounded in interdisciplinary frameworks combining mental health epidemiology, behavioral science, and socio-environmental analysis.

The study employs a cross-sectional analytical design supported by theoretical modeling and secondary data interpretation, emphasizing structural relationships between the three domains. Mental burden is conceptualized through cognitive-emotional stress indicators and clinical proxies, while dietary behavior is examined through consumption patterns influenced by socioeconomic and environmental constraints. Physical activity engagement is analyzed in terms of frequency, intensity, and accessibility within academic contexts. The integration of these variables allows for the identification of interaction pathways and distributional imbalances.

Findings suggest that mental burden significantly influences both nutritional irregularities and reduced physical activity, creating a reinforcing cycle of deteriorating well-being. The results align with global observations that mental health has become a dominant health concern, surpassing traditional disease burdens (IPSOS GLOBAL, 2023). Furthermore, relational disparities are shaped by institutional pressures, time scarcity, and psychosocial determinants, consistent with emerging insights into time-sensitive mental health dynamics (Ng, 2023). Importantly, the study reinforces prior findings that stress, dietary habits, and exercise patterns are deeply interdependent among college students (Agarwal & BoopathyUsharani, 2026).

The paper contributes a structured analytical framework for understanding lifestyle-health interdependencies in South Asian tertiary education settings. It highlights the need for integrated intervention strategies that simultaneously address psychological, nutritional, and physical dimensions. Limitations include reliance on secondary theoretical synthesis and contextual variability across institutions. Future research should incorporate longitudinal and empirical validation approaches to refine the proposed model and enhance its applicability.