ORIGINAL: Factors Influencing Health-Promoting Lifestyle among Obafemi Awolowo University Undergraduates in Ile Ife, Nigeria

West Afr J Med . 2022 Sep 16;39(9):922-927.

Abstract

Background: The impact of lifestyle choices on health has received more attention in recent years due to several scientific studies that have found positive results between diseases and quality of life. This study determined factors influencing Health Promoting Lifestyles among Obafemi Awolowo University undergraduates.

Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A multistage sampling technique was used in this study. Data were collected from 401 undergraduates using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) questionnaire which was adapted from previous studies. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of various demographics on the overall HPLP-II score. The association was determined using a 95% confidence interval and a p-value less than 5% was taken as statistically significant.

Results: The average total HPLP II score among respondents was 131.2 ±18.4. The other dimensions of health promoting life style are health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, stress management, self-actualization, and interpersonal relationships. Students had the highest mean scores in self-actualization among males (27.8±5.4) and females (27.7±5.2). Physical activity had the lowest mean score in both males (17.3±4.9) and females (15.9±4.7). There was a statistically significant difference in mean score of physical activity for male and female (t=2.805, p =0.005). The predictors of dimensions of health promoting life style were age (p=0.042), faculty (p=0.026), level of study (0.004) and religion (0.013).

Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship between health promoting lifestyle and age, religion and respondents study level.

Keywords: Health promoting lifestyles; Non-communicable diseases; Predictors; Undergraduates.