Lifestyle Medicine and Psychological Well-Being toward Health Promotion: A Cross-Sectional Study on Palermo (Southern Italy) Undergraduates

Domenica Matranga, Vincenzo Restivo, Laura Maniscalco, Filippa Bono, Giuseppe Pizzo, Giuseppe Lanza, Valerio Gaglio, Walter Mazzucco and Silvana Miceli
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Domenica Matranga: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Infant Care, Internal and Specialized Medicine “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Vincenzo Restivo: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Infant Care, Internal and Specialized Medicine “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Laura Maniscalco: Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Filippa Bono: Department of Economics, Business and Statistics, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Giuseppe Pizzo: Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Giuseppe Lanza: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Infant Care, Internal and Specialized Medicine “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Valerio Gaglio: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Infant Care, Internal and Specialized Medicine “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Walter Mazzucco: Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Infant Care, Internal and Specialized Medicine “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Silvana Miceli: Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Aim: To assess the attitude toward Lifestyle Medicine and healthy behaviours among students in the healthcare area and to demonstrate its association to psychological well-being; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study is conducted among 508 undergraduates of the University of Palermo (140 (27.6%) in the healthcare area and 368 (72.4%) in the non-healthcare area), during the academic year 2018–2019. Psychological well-being is measured through two dimensions of eudaimonia and hedonia, using the 10-item Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised (HEMA-R) scale, with answers coded on a 7-point scale. The association between demographic and modifiable behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases is assessed through crude and adjusted Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals; (3) Results: Orientation to both hedonia and eudaimonia is significantly associated to the Mediterranean diet (ORAdj = 2.28; 95% CI = (1.42–3.70)) and drinking spirits less than once a week (ORAdj = 1.89; 95% CI = (1.10–3.27)) and once a week or more (ORAdj = 6.02; 95% CI = (1.05–34.52)), while these conditions occur together less frequently for current smokers (ORAdj = 0.38; 95% CI = (0.18–0.81)). Students inclined to well-being consider healthcare professionals as models for their patients and all people in general (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = (1.28–3.00)); (4) Conclusions: The positive relation found between a virtuous lifestyle and psychological well-being suggests the construction, development and cultivation of individual skills are a means to succeed in counteracting at risk behaviours for health.

Keywords: lifestyle medicine; chronic diseases; modifiable behaviours; risk factors; psychological well-being; public health; eudaimonia; hedonia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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