INTRODUCTION:

Breakfast plays a crucial role in restoring energy after overnight fasting and supports metabolic and cognitive function¹. Numerous studies have linked regular breakfast consumption to improved memory, mood, learning capacity, and academic performance^2,3,4,5,6.

Breakfast skipping is becoming more common among young people, especially in India, despite its benefits, where dietary patterns are influenced by fast-paced lifestyles, poor time management and limited access to variety of nutritious food. This trend is alarming, as it has been associated with negative health outcomes, such as cognitive decline, obesity, anemia⁷ and metabolic disorders and malnutrition⁷.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period for developing lifelong eating habits. During this time, students are exposed to academic stress, irregular routines, and social influences that may impact their dietary behavior. Consumption of junk food has also significantly increased in recent years due to busy lifestyles and the easy availability of fast food option⁸. This research uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a conceptual framework, focusing on individual perceptions and beliefs that shape health behaviors, such as breakfast consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of breakfast skipping among nursing students and explore the socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with this practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study employed a descriptive research design with a quantitative, non-experimental approach. It was carried out among nursing students at a selected college in Thrissur, using a sample of 60 participants selected through convenience sampling. A self-structured questionnaire that included items on socio-demographic characteristics, dietary patterns, and reasons for skipping breakfast was administered for data collection. The tool was validated for content and was found to be reliable for use in this study.

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was taken from each participant. The socio-demographic data collected included variables such as age, gender, religion, educational background of parents, parents' occupation, type of family, socio-economic status, type of accommodation, diet type, and self-perceived nutritional status. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, with chi-square tests applied to assess the association between breakfast skipping and various demographic variables.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Section A: frequency percentage distribution of socio demographic variables

The demographic profile revealed that most students (51.7%) were aged 19–20 years, and 83.3% were female. Most participants were from Christian (48.3%) and Hindu (40%) backgrounds, and students were evenly distributed across the 1st, 3rd, and 5th semesters of their courses. Regarding educational status, 41.7% of fathers and 55% of mothers were undergraduates. Fathers were predominantly self-employed (46.7%) or privately employed (38.4%), whereas 43.3% of mothers were homemakers. A large proportion of students (83.3%) came from nuclear families, with 98.3% belonging to middle-income households. In terms of accommodation, 56.7% lived at home and 41.7% resided in hostels. Most students (86.7%) followed a mixed diet, and 66.7% perceived themselves as having normal weight, while 28.3% identified as underweight and 8.3% as overweight.

Section B: prevalence of skipping breakfast, and dietary patterns and habits of nursing students

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of prevalence of skipping breakfast among nursing students

Prevalence of skipping breakfast

Frequency

percentage

a) Never

b) 1-2 days per week

c) 3-4 days per week

d) More than 5 days per week

46.66

41.66

11.66

Regarding the prevalence of breakfast skipping, 53.33% of the students reported skipping breakfast at least once per week. Specifically, 41.66% skipped breakfast 1–2 days per week, while 11.66% skipped it 3–4 days per week. No participant reported skipping breakfast more than five days per week. These results align with findings from other Indian states, such as Chennai⁸, Karnataka^9,10, Odisha¹¹, Haryana¹², and Kerala¹³.

Dietary habits revealed that 43.75% of students compensated for missed breakfast during lunch, whereas 25% did so with snacks. Notably, 78.12% of participants reported that breakfast was their first meal of the day, and 75% consumed fast food occasionally, with 25% consuming it often. While 53.12% of students disagreed with the practice of replacing breakfast with large meals later in the day, 34.37% admitted to doing this sometimes.

Section C: Associated factors in skipping breakfast among nursing students

Several key factors associated with skipping breakfast were identified. The most common reasons were lack of time (50%), early morning class or clinical schedules (46.87%), limited variety in food (31.25%), personal taste preferences (28.12%), poor appetite, and a tendency to oversleep (25%). These results are consistent with those of Kerwani et al., who reported that time constraints and unappealing hostel food were major reasons for skipping breakfast¹¹. Similarly, Beeny et al. found that academic demands and early clinical duties led nursing students to substitute breakfast with snacks or supplements.

Additional findings showed that 56.25% of students were more likely to eat breakfast when a greater variety of food was available, and 43.75% were motivated by having more time in the morning to eat breakfast. However, 96.87% of students did not adhere to any structured dietary pattern after skipping breakfast. Breakfast was mainly prepared by family members (59.37%), followed by cooks (37.5%) and the students themselves (3.12%). Slightly more than half (53.12%) had breakfast at home, while 46.87% consumed breakfast from the hostel mess.

Most students (68.75%) preferred to have three meals per day, and the majority (62.5%) spent only 5–10 minutes on breakfast. Although 84.37% acknowledged that breakfast provides energy and 40.62% believed it enhances focus and attention, many still skipped it. A study conducted by Thakur reported that the majority of students possessed only an average level of knowledge regarding breakfast consumption¹³. Similar findings were observed by Joy et al., who reported comparable results among mothers of school children¹⁴.

Family and friends encouraged 93.75% of the students to eat breakfast, while 6.25% received no encouragement. Physical activity levels were low, with only 65.62% of the participants exercising occasionally and 18.75% not exercising at all. Sleep patterns indicated that 68.75% of the students slept 5–6 hours per night. Furthermore, 71.87% of the participants admitted to late-night eating habits. In terms of beliefs, 50% did not associate breakfast with weight gain, while 34.37% believed it could increase weight, and only 3.12% believed it directly caused weight gain.

Section D: Association between prevalence of skipping breakfast and socio-demographic variables among nursing students

Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between breakfast skipping and the sociodemographic variables of age (χ² = 11.23, p < 0.05), religion (χ² = 7.68), mother’s occupation (χ² = 11.54, p < 0.05), and type of family (χ² = 4.83, p < 0.05), indicating that these factors influenced the breakfast behavior of nursing students.

CONCLUSION:

The findings revealed a significant prevalence of breakfast skipping among nursing students, mainly due to lack of time, early schedules, and limited food choices. Despite knowing its benefits, many students regularly skip breakfast. Significant associations with age, religion, and mother’s occupation indicate that both personal and socio-demographic factors influence this behavior. Promoting flexible meal timings, better food options, and awareness can encourage healthier breakfast habits and support students' overall well-being.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS:

The study highlights the crucial role of nurses in encouraging habitual breakfast consumption through routine health assessments and individual counseling, highlighting its role in enhancing student health and academic performance. Nurse administrators can contribute by ensuring that hostels offer timely and nutritious breakfast options and support student-friendly schedules and wellness programs. In nursing education, incorporating nutrition and healthy lifestyle topics into the curriculum can help students develop better health habits. Finally, the findings encourage further nursing research to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and explore the long-term effects of skipping breakfast on physical health and academic outcomes.

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Received on 26.09.2025 Revised on 14.11.2025

Accepted on 30.12.2025 Published on 02.05.2026

Available online from May 05, 2026

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2026;14(2):71-73.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2026.00015

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