Lifestyle behaviors and related health risk factors in a sample of Australian university students

Whatnall, Megan; Patterson, Amanda; Brookman, Stephanie D; Convery, Paula; Swan, Claire; Pease, Stephanie; Hutchesson, Melinda J.

doi:10.1080/07448481.2019.1611580

Cited by 59 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This study was a secondary analysis of data from an online cross-sectional survey, the 2017 University of Newcastle (UON) Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey (SHLS). The full survey methods and results have been published elsewhere [33]. The aim of the SHLS is to identify lifestyle-related health risk factors, mental health and wellbeing and overweight/obesity prevalence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cut points for the AUDIT include abstinence/low risk (0-7), moderate risk (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), harmful/hazardous use (16)(17)(18)(19), or dependence . The cut points for the DUDIT are sex specific and include no drug related problems (males 0-5, females 0-1), drug related problems (males 6-24, females 2-24), or heavily dependent on drugs (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44). Sleep was assessed via a question from the National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, where participants reported their average hours of sleep in a 24-hr period [44].…”

Section: Health Behavioursmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students?

Whatnall

Patterson

Siew

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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University students report unhealthy diets and experience poorer mental health than the general population. This study explores the association between psychological distress and resilience with dietary intake in a sample of Australian university students. Cross-sectional data from the University of Newcastle Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey 2017 were analysed. Psychological distress (Kessler Scale), resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) and fruit, vegetable, soft drink, takeaway food and breakfast intakes (short diet questions) were assessed. Socio-demographic (e.g., gender), student (e.g., undergraduate/postgraduate) and health characteristics (e.g., physical activity) were captured. Multivariate linear regression models explored associations between psychological distress and resilience with dietary intake, with adjustment for potential confounders. Analysis included 2710 students (mean age 26.9 ± 9.5 years, 30.4% male). In adjusted models, lower psychological distress was associated with higher fruit (β = −0.37, p = 0.001) and vegetable (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) serves/day, more frequent breakfast consumption (p < 0.001) and less frequent soft drink and takeaway food consumption (p < 0.001). Higher resilience was associated with higher fruit (β = 0.03, p = 0.022) and vegetable (β = 0.06, p < 0.001) serves/day, more frequent breakfast consumption (p = 0.005), and less frequent soft drink (p < 0.001) and takeaway food consumption (p = 0.001). These results highlight a potential link between psychological distress and resilience with diet, and that further research in this area is warranted.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Health Behavioursmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students?

Whatnall

Patterson

Siew

et al. 2019

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This study was a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data from the University of Newcastle (UON) Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey (SHLS) 2017. Full study methods and results have been previously published . The SHLS overall aim was to identify lifestyle‐related health risk factors, mental health and wellbeing and overweight/obesity prevalence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of eating behaviours in Australian university students: A cross‐sectional analysis

Whatnall

Patterson

Chiu

et al. 2019

Nutrition & Dietetics

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Aim: This study aimed to explore clustering among individual eating behaviours in a sample of Australian university students, and explore associations between clustered eating behaviours and demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of data from the University of Newcastle (UON) Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey 2017 was conducted. Measures included eating behaviours (eg, vegetables, energy-dense nutrient poor [EDNP] food intakes) assessed using short diet questions, and demographic characteristics (eg, age, undergraduate/postgraduate student). Factor analysis was used to explore clustering of individual eating behaviours (ie, identify factors). Linear regression models were used to explore associations between eating behaviour factors identified and demographic characteristics. Results: A total of 3062 students (70% female; 56% aged 17-24 years) were included in the analysis. The six eating behaviour factors identified (characterised by higher consumption of the named foods/drinks) were; EDNP snack foods, meat and takeaway foods, fruit and vegetables, sugary drinks, breakfast, and breads and cereals. A higher fruit and vegetable factor score was associated with being female (P < .001), and a higher meat and takeaway foods factor score was associated with being male (P < .001) and of younger age (P < .001). Conclusions: Nutrient-rich foods clustered together and EDNP foods clustered together, that is, the identified factors represent either nutrient-rich or EDNP foods. Interventions in the university setting should target students with the poorest eating behaviours, including males and younger students. K E Y W O R D Scollege students, cross-sectional study, determinants, eating behaviours, university students

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“…For example, cross-sectional studies from the USA, continental Europe and the UK show around 22-37% of students regularly consume fast foods or confectionary (between four days per week and several times per day) [3][4][5]. Studies of Australian and UK university students have also reported that 86-92% of students consume below the recommendations for daily fruit and vegetables serves [3,6]. This is problematic as a large proportion of the population globally attend university, and the university environment should be health-promoting [7] rather than potentially contributing to poor dietary intakes and associated poor health and other outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

University Students Purchasing Food on Campus More Frequently Consume More Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Foods: A Cross-Sectional Survey

et al. 2021

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University food environments are typically dominated by unhealthy food choices. The aim was to investigate associations between on-campus food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake in an Australian university student sample. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017–2018 with students (n = 362, 71.0% female, mean age 27.5 ± 10.5 years) from the University of Newcastle, Australia. On-campus food purchasing behaviours (purchasing frequency and weekly expenditure), dietary intake (diet quality and percentage energy/day from energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods) and sociodemographic and student characteristics (e.g., time spent on campus) were measured. Linear regression was used to explore associations between food purchasing behaviours and dietary intake, adjusted for potential confounders. Mean percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was 31.7 ± 14.4. Mean diet quality score was 32.6 ± 10.2 out of 73. Higher percentage energy/day from EDNP foods was associated with higher weekly expenditure (β = 0.203, p < 0.001) and more frequent purchase (β = 18.041, p < 0.001 for ≥4 times a week vs. never) of food/drinks on campus. Diet quality was not significantly associated with purchase frequency or expenditure (p > 0.05). Findings are supportive of changes being made to university food environments, as a strategy to improve dietary intake among university students.

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Lifestyle behaviors and related health risk factors in a sample of Australian university students

Cited by 59 publications

References 32 publications

Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students?

Are Psychological Distress and Resilience Associated with Dietary Intake Among Australian University Students?

Determinants of eating behaviours in Australian university students: A cross‐sectional analysis

University Students Purchasing Food on Campus More Frequently Consume More Energy-Dense, Nutrient-Poor Foods: A Cross-Sectional Survey

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