Lifestyle Practice among Malaysian University Students

Abstract

Background: It is well established that a healthy lifestyle is of benefit in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and promotion of well-being. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine lifestyle practice and associated factors among university students in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted over six months from November 2011 until May 2012 among the students from the Management and Science University. This study was approved by its ethical committee , the students being explained the objective and invited to participate. A consent form was signed by all study participants. Questionnaire was distributed randomly to the students of the five faculties through their lecturers in different faculty. For univariate analysis t-test and ANOVA test were performed. Multiple linear regression used for multivariate analysis using SPSS 13.0. Results: A total number of 1100 students participated with a mean age of 22.1±2.21 (SD) years. The majority were 22 years or younger (56.3%), female (54%), Malay (61.5%), single (92.3%), with family monthly income ≥5000 Ringgit Malaysia (41.2%). Regarding lifestyle, about were 31.6% smokers, 75.6% never drank alcohol and 53.7% never exercised. Multivariate analysis showed that age, sex, race, parent marital status, participant marital status, type of faculty, living status, smoking status, exercise, residency, brushing teeth, fiber intake and avoid fatty food significantly influenced the practice of drinking alcohol among university students (p=0.006, p=0.042, p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.003, p<0.001; respectively). It similarly showed that sex, race, parent marital status, participant marital status, monthly family income, exercise, residency, brushing teeth and fiber intake significantly influenced the practice of sun protection (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.017, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001; respectively) and that age, sex, parent marital status, participant marital status, type of faculty, living status, exercise, taking nonprescribed medication, brushing the teeth, coffee consumption and fiber intake were significantly influenced the practice of fruits consumption (p=0.008, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.002, p<0.001, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusions: This study showed a poor practice of healthy lifestyle among university students. Therefore universities should emphasize a healthy lifestyle in all faculties as a required subject. Socio-demographic characteristics significantly influenced practice and thus should be considered when planning preventive measures among university students. Frequent campaigns and educational seminars are to be encouraged. Unhealthy practices, such as poor diet and smoking, are major causes of both cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Healthy practices, such as weight management, physical recreational activity and sleeping habits, have an impact on health status (Bellow and Breslow, 19...

Psychological Problems and Psychosocial Predictors of Cigarette Smoking Behavior among Undergraduate Students in Malaysia

“…So during stressful time smokers believe that smoking reduces their stress. Previous researchers had provided various treatments for smoking cessation, but based on this present study results, this study recommends that anti-smoking treatment should target modifying the irrational belief about the benefits of smoking cigarettes as it reinforces the smoking behavior among students (Ozturk et al, 2011;Al-naggar, 2013).…”

“…Lim 2013(Lim et al, 2013 identified that 59.3% of malesaged from 21 to 30 smokes cigarettes comparedto the other age groups in Malaysia. The prevalence of smoking was higher among male (41.2%) than female (17.5%) in one of the private university in Malaysia (Al-Naggar et al, 2013). There may be many female smokers as like male in Asian counties, but female smokers from Asian countries are reluctant to admit to the researchers that they are smokers (Zawahir et al, 2013).…”

Association between socio-demographic characteristics and preventable lifestyle related risk factors of non-communicable diseases among adolescents: a school based study in Berhampur, Odisha

“…In a study among the Malaysian University students by AlNaggar et al also reported females were about two times more likely to be physically inactive than males and many studies have shown lower physical active and physical inactive is pandemic especially among younger adults and a leading cause of death in the world. [15][16][17] Compared to their inactive peers, children and adolescents doing at least 60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily have higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance and strength. Documented health benefits of regular physical activity among young people also include reduced body fat, more favourable cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk profiles, enhanced bone health, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.…”

Effects of Cigarette Smoking across Three Generations and of Perceptions of the Smoking-Cancer Relationship on the Cigarette Smoking Status of Turkish University Students

“…When the literature is reviewed, few studies focusing on the influence of the cigarette smoking status of grandparents on the cigarette smoking by children and young people are seen, and these studies conclude that smoking by grandparents smoking has no direct influence on cigarette smoking by children and young people (Kalesan et al, 2006;Brook et al, 2012;Vandewater et al, 2014). Again, Studies emphasize that smoking by grandparents influences smoking by parents, that children whose parents smoke cigarette, on the other hand, smoke cigarette more, and that smoking by grandparents has an indirect influence on smoking by children and young people (Ohido et al, 2001;Kalesan et al, 2006;Bektas et al, 2010b;Al-naggaret al, 2011;Golbasi et al, 2011;Ozturk et al, 2011;Azhar and Alsayed, 2012;Brook et al, 2012;Ulgen et al, 2012;Al-Naggar et al, 2013;Jeganathan et al, 2013;Ozturk et al, 2013;Vandewater et al, 2014;). The findings of the current study are consistent with the literature.…”