Health-Promoting Lifestyle of University Students in Saudi Arabia
This cross-sectional study assessed health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among 1,656 university students in Saudi Arabia, comparing students enrolled in health colleges with those in non-health colleges. Using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) instrument, the study examined three key dimensions: health responsibility, physical activity, and nutrition. Results revealed significant differences between the two college groups in health responsibility and certain physical activity and dietary behaviors. Male students showed greater engagement in physical activity, while female students demonstrated more concern for nutrition. The study highlights the need for targeted health promotion programs within university settings to foster healthier habits among Saudi young adults.
- Introduction: Background on lifestyle, health risks, and study aims
- Review of Related Literature: Prior studies on student lifestyle in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
- Results: Demographics, health responsibility, activity, and nutrition findings
- Discussion: Interpretation of findings against prior literature and cultural context
- Conclusion: Recommendations for university health promotion programs
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper clearly frames its research purpose by identifying gaps in prior studies, particularly following up on Al-Kandari and Vidal (2007) and Farghaly et al. (2007), giving the study a well-situated rationale.
- Results are organized around three distinct HPLP-II subscales — health responsibility, physical activity, and nutrition — providing a systematic and replicable analytical structure.
- The discussion section contextualizes findings within cultural factors specific to Saudi Arabia, such as restrictions on female physical activity, which adds analytical depth beyond mere data reporting.
Key academic technique demonstrated
This paper demonstrates effective use of comparative cross-sectional analysis, contrasting outcomes between two distinct student populations (health college vs. non-health college students) using chi-square tests and multivariate models. By anchoring each finding in prior literature, the authors show how empirical results can build incrementally on existing scholarship rather than standing in isolation.
Structure breakdown
The paper follows a conventional IMRaD structure: an introduction that establishes context and research purpose, a targeted literature review of closely related studies, a results section organized by HPLP-II subscale, a discussion that interprets findings against prior research, and a conclusion that proposes actionable health promotion strategies. Limitations are addressed honestly within the discussion, strengthening the paper's academic credibility.
Introduction
A health-promoting lifestyle is an important determinant of health status and is recognized as a major factor in the maintenance and improvement of health (Mirghafourvand et al., 2015). Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and sleep are widely perceived as modifiable issues that impact a person's health (Garcia-Toro et al., 2012). During the transition from adolescence to adulthood, students at the college level often experience unhealthy changes in lifestyle. A variety of lifestyle and health-related habits emerge at this stage, including poor diet leading to malnutrition or obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and reduced physical activity (Butler et al., 2004; Wengreen & Moncur, 2009). These unhealthy lifestyles have become increasingly prevalent among college students in recent years (Keating et al., 2005; Lund et al., 2010). Unfavorable changes in lifestyle have been shown to cause a range of health problems including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, overweight, metabolic diseases, joint and skeletal problems, and depression (Bourre, 2006; Sarbadhikari & Saha, 2006). However, the existing evidence on the associations between these lifestyle factors and depression remains somewhat inconsistent (Averina et al., 2005; Demura & Sato, 2003; Song et al., 2012).
Many college students are living away from home for the first time, either in student housing or in nearby communities. They are faced with new responsibility for their personal health, lifestyle, and behavior. Young adults develop behaviors during this period that may remain part of their lifestyle into adulthood or that may jeopardize their health in later life. These behaviors include assuming responsibility for personal health, participating in physical activities, and acquiring good nutritional habits (Polat et al., 2015). University students occupy a dynamic transition period of growth and development that bridges adolescence and adulthood. This period is marked by rapid changes in the body, mind, and social relationships (WHO, 1977). At this stage, difficult life conditions and diverse lifestyle patterns within the university environment often lead students to engage in a wide range of unhealthy habits, including inadequate nutritional intake, insufficient rest, and limited exercise (Fujii et al., 1998; Hawks et al., 2003; Werch et al., 2007; Wei et al., 2008).
Several studies have examined the relationships between demographic variables and health-promoting behaviors. However, fewer studies have explored relationships between university year level and health-promoting behaviors. The purpose of this study is to determine whether relationships exist between university students' age, gender, living arrangements, body mass index (BMI), year level, and overall scores on the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) instrument, specifically regarding three subscales: health responsibility (HR), physical activity (PA), and nutrition (N). The study also aims to identify differences in health-promoting lifestyles between students in health colleges and those in non-health colleges. It is hoped that the results will provide useful information to university administrators and educators for general health education program awareness and health literacy dissemination, and help students adopt healthier lifestyles.
Review of Related Literature
The study by Al-Kandari and Vidal (2007) examined the health-promoting lifestyle profile of 224 nursing students in Kuwait and correlated it with levels of enrollment in nursing courses as well as academic performance. The researchers used Walker's Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II instrument to measure students' lifestyle profiles. Academic performance was assessed using individual and group-level grade point averages. The researchers found significant differences between male and female students regarding their health-promoting lifestyle, physical activity, interpersonal relationships, and stress management techniques. Age, nationality, and marital status also correlated with health-promoting profiles. However, no association was found between health-promoting lifestyles and academic performance. One aim of the present study is to follow up on the findings of Al-Kandari and Vidal (2007) and address any gaps left by their research.
The study by Farghaly, Ghazali, Al-Wabel et al. (2007) focused on the lifestyle habits of school students in Saudi Arabia, specifically examining the role of lifestyle and nutrition on student health. A two-stage random sample selected 767 male and female students across various levels of schooling. Participants completed a questionnaire from which information about weight, height, and body mass index was obtained. The findings showed that students suffering from poor health — typically obesity — were most commonly younger females at lower levels of education. The study indicated that poor health-promotion in student lifestyles can begin at an early age and that schools should do more to understand student lifestyles. The present study aims to build on this understanding so that student health can be more effectively addressed at the university level.
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