Lifestyle of university students in Kashan, Iran and factors affecting it

It is known that personal behavior influences one’s health. The present study was designed to investigate lifestyle of non-medical students of governmental and private (Azad) universities in Kashan, Iran and factors affecting it. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 520 non-medical students in Kashan, Iran, selected by convenience sampling, in academic year 2013-14. Data on demographic characteristics and health behaviors were collected using standard valid questionnaires, for the latter the questionnaire being the Pender’s Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II). The data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, followed by t-test, and U Mann-Whitney test to compare the means of the two populations. The m ean age of the students was 21.75 ± 2.5 years. Their overall health-promoting lifestyle score was of 2.43 (SD = 0.38). This score, as well as scores for the subcategories ─ nutritional behavior, spiritual development, physical activity, health responsibility, and stress management ─ were lower for the subjects with an experience of stressful events. Further analysis of the data showed that t here were significant differences between boys and girls as regards physical activity (P = 0.000), between single and married students as regards nutritional status (P = 0.032), and between working and non-working students as regards spiritual development (P = 0.014). The findings indicate that experienced stressful events lay the ground for the adoption of risky behaviors in university students. Therefore, universities should design and implement programs aiming at improving lifestyle of the students and promoting their health.