Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviors and Mental Well-Being of ASEAN University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The prevalence of epidemiological health-risk behaviors and mental well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic, stratified by sociodemographic factors in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) university students, were examined in the research. Data were collected in March-June 2021 via an online survey from 15,366 university students from 17 universities in seven ASEAN countries. Analyzed data comprised results on physical activity, health-related behaviors, mental well-being, and sociodemographic information. A large proportion of university students consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (82.0%; 95%CI: 81.4, 82.6) and snacks/fast food daily (65.2%; 95%CI: 64.4, 66.0). About half (52.2%; 95%CI: 51.4, 53.0) consumed less than the recommended daily amounts of fruit/vegetable and had high salt intake (54%; 95%CI: 53.3, 54.8). Physical inactivity was estimated at 39.7% (95%CI: 38.9, 40.5). A minority (16.7%; 95%CI: 16.1, 17.3) had low mental well-being, smoked (8.9%; 95%CI: 8.4, 9.3), and drank alcohol (13.4%; 95%CI: 12.8, 13.9). Country and body mass index had a significant correlation with many health-risk behaviors and mental well-being. The research provided important baseline data for guidance and for the monitoring of health outcomes among ASEAN university students and concludes that healthy diet, physical activity, and mental well-being should be key priority health areas for promotion among university students.

Association of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption with psychological symptoms among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…There is evidence to show that, 9 months after initiation of the outbreak of COVID-19, More than half of Chinese college students have depressive and anxiety symptoms ( Xiao et al, 2021 ). In contrast, a large proportion of college students consumed SSB (82.0, 95%CI, 81.4, 82.6; Rahman et al, 2022 ). This study hypothesized that there is an association between SSB consumption and psychological symptoms of Chinese college students.…”

Habitual salt preference worsens blood pressure in hospitalized hypertensive patients with omicron infection under epidemic-related stress

“…A web-based survey conducted during the early COVID-19 containment phase in France reported an increase of up to 28.4% in caloric/salty food intake [ 17 ]. Studies on university students from seven South East Asian countries had revealed that during the pandemic, over 50% of students had a high salt intake [ 49 , 50 ]. A study conducted in India involving children aged 9–14 years found that 25% of them consumed ultra-processed foods with high levels of salt during the pandemic [ 51 ].…”

Applying the behavior change wheel to identify pandemic-related attitudes and feelings about physical activity as predictors of physical activity level among university students in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…We conducted a cross-sectional survey among Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students for 1 week in the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021 (11-17 April 2021), following the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. This study is a part of the ASEAN University Network Health Promoting Network (AUN-HPN) Physical Activity in College Students (PACS) Project (Rahman et al, 2022), which collected PA data and its correlates in UGM on three-phase ( 28…”