The association between academic performance indicators and lifestyle behaviors among Kuwaiti college students

Al-Haifi, Ahmad R.; Alawadhi, Balqees; Bumaryoum, Nayef Y; Alajmi, Fahhad; Ashkanani, Rasha H; Al-Hazzaa, Hazzaa M.

doi:10.1186/s41043-023-00370-w

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Eating habits have a significant impact on academic performance. As many studies have shown, students who have regular nutritious meals tend to have better concentration, memory, and academic performance than those with poor eating habits such as skipping meals and consuming high amounts of fast food [ 16 - 19 ]. This is in line with the current study's results, which found that students who often or always have breakfast are less likely to experience low academic performance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Lifestyle on Academic Performance Among Health Profession Students at Umm Al-Qura University

Mahfouz,

Alhazmi,

Almatrafi

et al. 2024

Cureus

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Background and aim A healthy lifestyle is defined as a way of living that reduces the likelihood of severe illness or early death. Factors required for a healthy lifestyle, such as regular physical activity, better sleep patterns, improved dietary habits, probable caffeine consumption, and decreased feelings of anxiety, are generally assumed to be important for high academic performance. This study aims to investigate the correlation between a healthy lifestyle and academic success among health profession students at Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia. By doing so, we could potentially lead to the implementation of targeted interventions to support students in achieving their best academic potential. Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study conducted among health profession students at Umm Al-Qura University. An online questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic information and the impact of lifestyle characteristics on academic performance from October to November 2023. Data were analyzed using RStudio (R version 4.3.1). Results A total of 652 students participated in the study. The majority were between the ages of 18 and 25 years (97.2%, n=634). Females constituted the majority of the participants (69.9%, n=456). Regarding the field of study, the College of Medicine had the highest representation (52.9%, n=345). Regarding body mass index, the normal weight category was the most prevalent, encompassing 59.8% (n=390) of the participants. The results show that the participants generally had a good grade point average (GPA) in the range of 3.50 to 4.00. Also, the time spent on social media applications was not correlated with academic performance (P=0.575). Importantly, the majority of participants perceived that lifestyle habits impacted their academic performance. Conclusion This study found that unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep, poor dietary choices, smoking, and mental health issues such as anxiety, have a negative impact on academic performance. Therefore, the dissemination of relevant knowledge is needed to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle and raise students' awareness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Lifestyle on Academic Performance Among Health Profession Students at Umm Al-Qura University

Mahfouz,

Alhazmi,

Almatrafi

et al. 2024

Cureus

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“…Conversely, males had greater waist circumferences and body weights but not greater BMIs. Interestingly, few studies have reported similar rates of obesity/overweight among students upon admission to university (51,52). However, additional quality longitudinal studies are needed to determine the determinants of changes in behavior across these life transitions, which are associated with deterioration of lifestyle behaviors and gains in adiposity as individuals enter adulthood (11).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifestyle behavior of physiotherapy students from Ecuador upon admission to higher education: a cross-sectional study

Gutiérrez-Espinoza,

Cassola-Cajiao,

Garzón-Ulloa

et al. 2024

Front. Sports Act. Living

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IntroductionAdmission to university has been identified as a period involving the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. However, few studies have addressed the extent of this experience among Latin American university students. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to describe anthropometric variables, body composition, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep duration and quality, diet, and alcohol consumption in first-year students entering physiotherapy school at the Universidad de las Americas in Quito, Ecuador; second, to test differences in these variables between sexes.MethodsA total of 116 students were recruited. Sociodemographic variables, anthropometric indices, body composition, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep quality and duration, adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines, physical fitness (i.e., handgrip strength), diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits were evaluated.ResultsA total of 50 male (43.1%) and 66 female (56.9%) students were assessed. Overall, the adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines of the students upon admission to university was 8.6%. Conversely, 86 students (74.1%) did not meet any of the recommendations. Upon admission to university, only 8.6% of the students (female 2.6%; male 6%) met the overall 24-hour movement guidelines. Additionally, 82 students (70.7%) needed changes in diet quality, 81 students (69.8%) had significant sleep disturbances, and 22 students (18.9%) had harmful alcohol consumption. A greater proportion of males met all three 24-h movement recommendations (p = 0.025) than females did. In addition, females reported a greater percentage of occasional smokers (p = 0.025) and a greater prevalence of obesity (p < 0.001), a lower level of physical activity (p < 0.001), and a greater percentage of sleep disturbance (p < 0.001). Conversely, males reported greater waist circumference (p = 0.005), weight (p < 0.001), handgrip strength (p < 0.001), and a greater percentage of harmful alcohol consumption (p < 0.001).DiscussionOur study showed that upon admission to university, overall adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines is low among university students. Additionally, a high percentage of students reported unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, with differences according to sex. Our findings could lead to the use of specific sex-specific strategies for the prevention and promotion of movement and lifestyle behaviors during this critical period.

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“…This enabled us to assess changes in BMI and body weight during the pandemic period. The current data used in the present study were part of a prior research project [26].…”

Section: Questionnaire and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions Affected Kuwaiti College Students’ Anthropometry, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Dietary Habits

Al-Haifi,

Bumaryoum,

Al-Awadhi

et al. 2023

Nutrients

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The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented to control it have led to widespread lifestyle changes globally. While previous studies have explored these effects across different age groups, this research focuses uniquely on college students in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study (N = 1259) was conducted among college students using a validated online questionnaire covering various aspects, including demographics, academic performance, self-reported body weight and height, sleep duration, dietary habits, and physical activity. There were equal proportions of individuals reporting decreased, increased, or no change in body weight, BMI, and dietary habits due to COVID-19, with no significant gender differences observed. A higher decrease (44.3%) than increase (29.2%) occurred due to COVID-19 in the proportion of college students engaging in physical activity. Significant differences were found in the students’ responses to most of the eating behavior questions, concerning the changes attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Multivariable analysis showed significant interaction effects for gender by losing above 9 kg during the last 6 months in age (p = 0.037), total physical activity in METs-min/week (p = 0.048), and cake/donuts intake (p = 0.006). Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, revealed that a decrease in BMI was associated with an increase in daily vegetable intake (aOR = 1.531, p = 0.031), whereas increases in BMI were associated with an increased intake of sugar-sweetened drinks equal to or above 4 days/week (aOR = 1.551, p = 0.032) and increased chocolates/candy intake equal to or above 4 days/week (aOR = 1.792, p = 0.037). It was concluded that, in response to a major epidemic, such as COVID-19, college students, as a population, are susceptible to significant changes in lifestyle and eating behaviors that can impact their health and well-being. Future risks for college students’ health can be reduced through appropriate lifestyle interventions.

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The association between academic performance indicators and lifestyle behaviors among Kuwaiti college students

Cited by 7 publications

References 52 publications

The Influence of Lifestyle on Academic Performance Among Health Profession Students at Umm Al-Qura University

The Influence of Lifestyle on Academic Performance Among Health Profession Students at Umm Al-Qura University

Lifestyle behavior of physiotherapy students from Ecuador upon admission to higher education: a cross-sectional study

How COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions Affected Kuwaiti College Students’ Anthropometry, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Dietary Habits

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