Cluster Analysis of Health-Related Lifestyles in University Students

Miquel Bennasar-Veny, Aina M. Yañez, Jordi Pericas, Lluis Ballester, Juan Carlos Fernandez-Dominguez, Pedro Tauler and Antoni Aguilo
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Miquel Bennasar-Veny: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Aina M. Yañez: Research Group on Global Health & Human Development, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Jordi Pericas: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Lluis Ballester: Department of Specific Didactics and Pedagogy, Educational and Social Research and Training Research Group, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Juan Carlos Fernandez-Dominguez: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Pedro Tauler: Research Group on Evidence, lifestyles and Health Research, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain
Antoni Aguilo: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Balearic Islands University, Cra. de Valldemossa, Km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-15

Abstract: Health-related lifestyles in young adults are a public health concern because they affect the risk for developing noncommunicable diseases. Although unhealthy lifestyles tend to cluster together, most studies have analyzed their effects as independent factors. This study assessed the prevalence, association, and clustering of health-related lifestyles (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and quality of diet) among university students. This cross-sectional study examined a sample of student participants from the University of the Balearic Islands (n = 444; 67.8% females; mean age: 23.1 years). A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess health-related lifestyles. Men that consumed more alcohol, had less healthy diets, were more likely to be overweight, and performed more physical activity. Women had a higher prevalence of low weight and performed less physical activity. Physical activity had a negative association with time using a computer (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.95) and a positive association with adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.32). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a negative association with tobacco consumption (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.91), and positive associations with having breakfast every day (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.76) and consuming more daily meals (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.87). Cluster analysis indicated the presence of three distinct groups: Unhealthy lifestyles with moderate risk; unhealthy lifestyles with high risk; and healthy lifestyles with low risk. Health promotion interventions in the university environment that focus on multiple lifestyles could have a greater effect than interventions that target any single lifestyle.

Keywords: lifestyle; clustering; risk factors; university students; physical activity; diet; smoking; alcohol; mediterranean diet; health-related behaviors (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 (8)

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