Factors Influencing Perceived Stress And Its Impact Towards Food Consumption Behaviour During The Pandemic Assignment, MSU, Malaysia Coronaviruses Are A Group Of Viruses Adapted From The Family Of Coronavidae That Has Caused A Change In The Lives

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses adapted from the family of Coronavidae that has caused a change in the lives of individuals since 2019. The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply affected almost all sectors, especially the economy and health system, in an unprecedented way and has disrupted and impacted the lives and behaviors of individuals globally, varying at different points in a lifespan.

In particular, the challenges that occurred in the lifestyle of individuals such as working from home, homeschooling, and unemployment has influenced the lifestyle and behavior practices of individuals, resulting in a negative impact on their food consumption patterns. This is further explained by Shu Fen et.al., (2021), who defined that the pandemic has been associated with negative attitude changes that involve unhealthy food consumption containing increased high-fat, high-sugar food, fast food, and snacks.

Food consumption is an essential human need that is easily influenced by many factors such as religious influences, socio-demographics, food-related personality traits, exposure or past experience, and motivational factors that are triggered at various times of the day. This includes the availability of the product, the salience of the food, and the size of the portion as well.