Cluster Analysis of Health-Related Lifestyles in University Students

Abstract

Health-related lifestyles in young adults are a public health concern because they affect the risk for developing noncommunicable diseases. Although unhealthy lifestyles tend to cluster together, most studies have analyzed their effects as independent factors. This study assessed the prevalence, association, and clustering of health-related lifestyles (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and quality of diet) among university students. This cross-sectional study examined a sample of student participants from the University of the Balearic Islands (n = 444; 67.8% females; mean age: 23.1 years). A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess health-related lifestyles. Men that consumed more alcohol, had less healthy diets, were more likely to be overweight, and performed more physical activity. Women had a higher prevalence of low weight and performed less physical activity. Physical activity had a negative association with time using a computer (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.95) and a positive association with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.32). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a negative association with tobacco consumption (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.91), and positive associations with having breakfast every day (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.76) and consuming more daily meals (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.87). Cluster analysis indicated the presence of three distinct groups: Unhealthy lifestyles with moderate risk; unhealthy lifestyles with high risk; and healthy lifestyles with low risk. Health promotion interventions in the university environment that focus on multiple lifestyles could have a greater effect than interventions that target any single lifestyle.

Prevalence and Socio-Demographic, Academic, Health and Lifestyle Predictors of Illicit Drug/s Use among University Undergraduate Students in Finland

“…As for regular IDU, our observed 1.5% rate was considerably less the 4.8% level found across students at seven universities in the United Kingdom, using the same questionnaire [ 28 ]. Across the current sample of students, the most common IDU reported were marijuana and cannabis, followed by a variety of other illicit drug/s, in line with others where the highest weekly consumption was for cannabis 26.5% (3.1% daily), followed by tranquillizers, cocaine, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and amphetamines [ 67 ].…”

Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle in University Students: Changes during Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In our study, the initial hypothesis was partially confirmed: there was an increase in sitting time, but unexpectedly, there was also an increase in both the amount of time spent doing physical activity and the number of days on which participants were active. We expected to find an increase in sitting time due to the restrictions on movement; however, we also thought that the increase in screen time would reduce physical activity time, since in previous studies conducted in the Spanish university population, more screen time was associated with higher inactivity levels [ 31 ]. We do not know the exact reasons why physical activity increased, and we do not know if the effects on physical activity habits would have been maintained if the lockdown had gone on for longer.…”

Implications of personality and parental education on healthy lifestyles among adolescents

“…Adolescents health-related lifestyles should not be considered as isolated factors, because lifestyles tend to cluster (healthy and unhealthy lifestyles). Considering these results, health promotion interventions in adolescents should focus on multiple behaviors rather than any single behaviour 45 .…”