Healthy lifestyle behaviour in university students and influential factors in eastern Turkey

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the healthy lifestyle behaviour of university students receiving education in central Erzincan. The population of this descriptive and cross-sectional research included a total of 4506 students receiving education at Erzincan University in the city centre, and the sampling included 981 students selected by a simple random sampling method from these schools. Data were collected between April and May 2008 by using an identification form and the Health Promotion Life-Style Profile (HPLP) Scale. Healthy lifestyle behaviour point averages of students were detected to be at medium level (118.41±20.90). It was established that student's grade, educational level of parents, economic status of the family and the student, the place where the student stays and smoking status of the student resulted in a significant difference in HPLP Scale total score average and the mean score of the majority of subscales.

Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Behaviors of University Students in Jordan

“…No statistical significant difference was found between gender and the mean total score for HPLP. This result is similar to those obtained in previous studies [15] [21].…”

“…Other potential explanation can be that students are loaded by heavy studying duties at university, and they need extra hours to study at home. Interestingly, other western studies reported similar results [15] [30].…”

“…For instance, a study by Hong [30] found that older students had a significant high level of overall health promotion life style, particularly, in stress management, self actualization, health responsibility, and nutrition domains. In the same line, other studies found that only the mean score of the health responsibility domain increased parallel to the age of participants [15] [17]. More studies are needed to understand the effect of age on health promoting behaviors.…”

“…Similarly, Can et al [17] showed a statistical significant difference between nursing students' total HPLP and averages of all subscales and their level of income. In addition, a Turkish study by Hacıhasanoğlu et al [15] revealed that the mean total score and sub scores increased as the level of income increase. Contrast results were found in the study of Hong [30].…”

“…The total mean score of HPLP obtained in this study was (127.87 ± 19.91). In a study conducted by Hacıhasanoğlu et al [15] and Karadağ & Yildirim [24] in Turkey, the average score for the healthy lifestyle behavior was lower. This difference could be due to the differences in socio-cultural background.…”