The influence of a health education programme on healthy lifestyles and practices among university students

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the lifestyles of university students, the relationship between specific demographical variables and health practices and the role of training in improving these practices. An experimental and a comparison group were selected using the convenient sampling method. Two 5-day training programmes on healthy lifestyles were conducted. Self-reported behaviours of both groups were assessed before and after the programme. The results reflected slightly positive health practices related to the three behavioural categories with the type of diet being the highest and physical activity being the lowest. No significant differences were reflected in relation to the selected variables. A positive influence of training on improving health behaviours of university students related to the three behavioural categories was observed. Results suggest a similar course to be included as a university elective and students' involvement in available extra curricular activities be encouraged.

Web-Based Intervention for Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Chinese University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Being physically active and eating healthily are known to reduce the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes [1]. Few young people, however, reach the recommendations of health behavior for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases.…”

“…Strategies to foster a healthy lifestyle in university students are therefore essential. Some evidence reveals that multiple behavior health interventions can promote both exercise and healthy diets in university students [1,7,8]. Thus, behavioral interventions for university students are required to support long-lasting behavior changes beyond late adulthood.…”

Role of health-promoting behaviours for on-campus and distance education students

“…Previous research has tended to focus on health-promoting behaviours in university students who are single, younger (17-25 years), financially supported by their families (Al-Kandari & Vidal, 2007;Peker & Bermek, 2011), and who study on campus in a health-related field such as nursing (Abdu-Moghli, Khalaf, & Barghoti, 2010;Al-Kandari & Vidal, 2007;Al-Kandari, Vidal, & Thomas, 2008;Haddad, Kane, Rajacich, Cameron, & Al-Ma'aitah, 2004). Few studies have examined health-promoting behaviours in older students (ie, over 25 years), who are studying at a distance and from off-campus, and yet this student demographic has been expanding in most universities in Australia as well as elsewhere.…”

Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Behaviors of University Students in Jordan

“…Another Jordanian study by Ammouri (2008) [21] revealed that a small percentage of Jordanian adults participated in health promoting behaviors and that demographic factors such as gender, age, and income are important determinant of the individual engagement in the health promoting behaviour. A study by Abu-Mogli et al (2010) [22] that examined the effect of five days education program on type of diet, physical activity and nutritional habit revealed that there was a positive influence of training on improving health behaviors of university students related to the three behavioral categories.…”