The Realities of Lifestyle, Health Behavior, and Quality of Life of University Students

Lifestyle and health behavior are known risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD), and they can affect quality of life (QOL). University students are future decision makers in institutions, societies, and countries. Thus, the objectives of this study were to examine the reality of the lifestyles, health behaviors, and QOL of university students and to clarify the relationship between their health behaviors and QOL. The sample was 199 students at “A” University, in grades of first-year to fourth-year during the academic year 2014–15. A self-administered questionnaire assessed the demographic variables, health statuses, lifestyles, health behaviors, and QOL of the students. The amount of time spent watching television was higher among students living alone. Female students had higher amounts of study time and a greater prevalence for adequate sleep (7–8 hours) than their counterparts. Regular exercise was higher among male students. Alcohol consumption and smoking were higher among male students, and students living with families ate breakfast regularly. There was weak positive correlation between WHO Quality of Life-BREF and Breslow’s health habits. This study showed that effective health education that considered differences of gender and family condition is especially relevant for the promotion of their health because the QOL at this phase of development creates a foundation for health and QOL in late adulthood