Predictors of health behaviours among Indian college students: an exploratory study

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the association between health behaviours of diet, physical activity, smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption, safe sex and sleep quality with demographic (e.g. age, gender) and psychological (i.e. stress, self-esteem and sense of coherence) factors in Indian residential college students.Design/methodology/approachStudents studying for Bachelor of Technology at residential colleges in India were invited to complete an online questionnaire regarding their health behaviours, demographics and psychological variables. Each health behaviour was regressed onto demographic and psychological factors to determine which of them were associated with performing each behaviour.FindingsThere was no clear pattern of predictors for the health behaviours overall. Self-esteem was related to healthy diet, being single was related to adequate sleep, higher parental income was related to safer sex and being older was related to more alcohol use and safer sex.Research limitations/implicationsThis study revealed that health education efforts may need to be designed for specific behaviours and correlates among Indian college students. Interventions regarding (1) healthy eating should target students with lower self-esteem, (2) sleep should target students in a relationship and (3) safer sex should target younger students and those from less affluent backgrounds.Originality/valueThis research is one of the first attempts to study the predictors of health behaviours among Indian college students. The study highlighted that psychological factors (e.g. self-esteem) and demographic factors (e.g. relationship status, parental income, age) affect different health behaviours. These findings can help health educators to design tailored interventions and aid in health education and promotion among Indian college students.

Factors Associated with Choosing the Kerala Model of Palliative Care versus Standard Care among Indian Cancer Patients

“…The HADS has been used extensively in Indian cancer populations and reports good validity and reliability. 5 8 9 The Cronbach α score for the current study is 0.805, indicating a good reliability.…”

Analysis of Influencing Factors of Metabolic Risk of Physical Education College Students and Construction of Diagnostic Model

“…Using Sigma test method, this paper makes a dynamic test on the monitoring indexes of physical function metabolism of college students in physical education institutes before and after the periodic training cycle, and makes multiple correlation analysis. Because the probability distribution of the index data is a common normal distribution, if the difference between the index data and the index data exceeds a certain critical value , it makes: (6) At this time, ASD indicates that there is a significant difference in the metabolism of physical function of college students in physical education institutes. Through the difference change of energy supply ratio of athletes' competition energy metabolism system, this paper analyzes the influencing factors of physical function metabolism risk of college students in physical education institutes, realizes the comprehensive evaluation of the overall characteristics of energy supply ratio, the percentage of energy metabolism level and the metabolism level of aerobic oxidation energy supply system of athletes, and obtains the internal relationship between aerobic metabolism ability and anaerobic metabolism ability of college students' physical function, which can guide scientific training.…”

“…As a matter of fact, among the physical functions of college students in physical education institutions, the functions of phosphate system and aerobic metabolic circulatory system account for a large proportion respectively, so it is necessary to strengthen the research on the overall cardiopulmonary function parameters, such as the maximum oxygen uptake and the maximum anaerobic work, which reflect the core indexes of cardiopulmonary function reserve, to carry out dynamic monitoring and strengthen the training research in this respect, so as to achieve the purpose of scientific training [3][4] . The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the characteristics of energy metabolism level and energy supply ratio of domestic high-level sports athletes in preliminaries and finals through simulated competition experiments, so as to clarify the characteristics of sports events from the perspective of energy metabolism and take high-level sports as a benchmark, and to reduce sports risks and improve competitive level through the analysis of influencing factors of metabolic risks of physical function of college students and the construction of diagnostic models [5][6] .…”

Effect of a modified motivational interviewing intervention on university students' psychological, cognitive, and nutritional health: A randomized controlled trial

“…1,4 Furthermore, social activities and pressure, as exerted by peers, hinder health-promoting practices. 5,6 Consequently, unhealthy behaviors put university students at risk for short-and long-term negative health consequences. For example, the literature shows that adopting unhealthy behaviors by university students could lead to an increased risk for chronic diseases.…”

“…The campus environment plays a key role in exposing the students to practicing unhealthy behaviors 1,4 . Furthermore, social activities and pressure, as exerted by peers, hinder health‐promoting practices 5,6 . Consequently, unhealthy behaviors put university students at risk for short‐ and long‐term negative health consequences.…”