Modelling Health in University Students: Are Young Women More Complicated Than Men?

Éva Bíró, Sándor Kovács, Ilona Veres-Balajti, Róza Ádány and Karolina Kósa
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Éva Bíró: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Sándor Kovács: Department of Economical and Financial Mathematics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Institute of Statistics and Research Methodology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Ilona Veres-Balajti: Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Róza Ádány: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Karolina Kósa: Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: The biopsychosocial model of health in a limited life course perspective was tested among students in higher education using data from a nationwide cross-sectional survey of students on track to become teachers in Hungary. Health determinants were grouped into categories of biological, psychological, and social determinants and arranged in a temporal manner from childhood to the present. The model was tested by canonical correlation analysis followed by multivariate analysis of covariance. One composite outcome of health and six determinant groups were examined out of a total of 24 variables in both genders. Separate sets of health determinants were identified for men and women. The health of men was determined by fewer variables that were more proximal in time, more centred around physical activity, and less influenced by social relations. As opposed to that of men, women’s health was influenced by age; determinants were grouped around the ingestion of various substances and social support. In contrast to men, the health of women seemed to be more obviously multifactorial. The study supports the usefulness of the biopsychosocial model of health in research. The best fit models provided evidence for the importance of gender awareness when designing public health interventions aimed at students.

Keywords: biopsychosocial model of health; life course perspective; university students; multivariate analysis; wellbeing; physical activity; social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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