Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline

Abstract

Today the need to analyze health behaviour from a gender perspective is as imminent as ever, particularly at university, where the number of women who register is on the rise and has exceeded the number of male students worldwide. We carried out a prevalence study aimed at analyzing Spanish university students’ lifestyles and identify differences according to gender and academic discipline. Of 3,646 eligible subjects doing university courses related to health (Group A), education (Group B) and other professions (Group C), 985 (27.0%) participated in the study. Information was elicited about their physical activity level, disturbed eating attitudes, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated according to sex and kind of academic discipline. The obtained data confirmed that only 27.4% of the students were considered as sufficiently active, while 14.9% of them suffered from disturbed eating attitudes (DEA). Women were particularly less active (OR 0.46 (0.32–0.66); p < 0.0001), and more sedentary than men (OR 1.40 (1.00–1.97); p = 0.03). Binge drinking was more frequent in female than in male students (OR 1.79 (1.29–2.47); p = 0.0004). A third of the analyzed sample admitted that they had used illegal substances, while a lower consumption prevalence was found in women (OR 0.53 (0.40–0.71); p < 0.0001). The studied population was not very active (27.4%), especially women (OR = 0.45). Therefore, it seems that Spanish university students lead an unhealthy lifestyle, a situation which seems more conspicuous amongst females.

Lifestyle of college students: follow-up study during the first two years of the undergraduate

“…Estes resultados, aliado a achados semelhantes de estudos internacionais, 4,5,16,20 sugerem a importância de intervenções que possibilitem e motivem a prática de atividade física entre estudantes universitários, bem como a importância da criação de programas de orientação nutricional e implantação de restaurantes universitários nos campi universitários visando uma alimentação mais saudável e balanceada entre os estudantes.…”

“…1 O EV pode ser influenciado por diversos comportamentos, tais como, prática de atividades físicas, hábitos alimentares, uso de tabaco, relacionamento com a família e amigos, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, sexo seguro, controle do estresse e visão da vida. [2][3][4][5] Cada vez mais crescem as evidências de que o modo de viver representa o fator diferencial para a saúde e a qualidade de vida no mundo contemporâneo, independente da idade ou condição social. 6 Considerando a influência do estilo de vida na saúde das pessoas, este assunto tem se constituído uma constante preocupação, uma vez que baixos níveis de saúde e bem-estar podem provocar consequências negativas, especialmente entre jovens universitários, que constituem um grupo vulnerá-vel, pois com a entrada no ensino superior ocorrem questionamentos de valores, crenças e atitudes empregados pela família no processo de educação.…”

Prevalência de comportamentos de risco em adulto jovem e universitário

“…(5,15) A research with Spanish college students showed that women were less active and had a more sedentary lifestyle than men and therefore the realization of specific intervention actions for women was recommended. (3) Data pointing out that college students who live with their families had better nutritional habits have also been found, and that those enrolled in the first year of college tend to present improved health behaviors when compared with students in subsequent periods. (15) As for the overweight, this study observed a higher percentage of cases in comparison with the findings among American university students.…”

“…Recent studies aimed at comprehending, controlling and monitoring such behaviors point out their high prevalence reflected on sedentary habits, eating disorders, traffic accidents, consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, and violence against oneself and others. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) Wang et al observed a high percentage of university students who presented unhealthy lifestyles. The researchers stood up to defend the need for taking social and territorial contexts into account in the preparation of plans toward minimizing the morbidity-mortality loads caused by non-transmissible chronic diseases, as well as the need for improving the quality of life of this population by means of regional development programs of healthcare education that may mitigate social-spatial inequalities.…”

Mudanças em comportamentos relacionados à saúde e indicadores metabólicos em universitários entre 2011 e 2014

“…O estilo de vida é objeto de estudo de pesquisadores da área da saúde, por ser um dos mais importantes determinantes da saúde da população 1,2 . Entretanto, apesar de toda informação a respeito do tema, pesquisas comportamentais revelam que entre estudantes universitários parece ocorrer aumento dos índices e da quantidade de hábitos considerados de risco para desenvolvimento de doenças crônico-degenerativas 3,4 .…”