Prevalence of health-related behaviours and associated factors in university students in Ireland: a 4-year repeated cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transitioning to higher education (HE) has been highlighted as a critical time to embed positive health-related behaviours (HRBs). However, there has been a long-standing association between student life and risk-taking. This study aimed to (1) identify the prevalence of HRBs over time in cohorts of HE students in Ireland, (2) establish an overall health index and analyse the health-related status of HE students and associated factors based on this index and (3) explore student perspectives towards public health interventions.

Methods

Using an anonymous, repeated measures, cross-sectional study design, 4 years of data were gathered and analysed from a student sample (N (final)=3221). A series of Pearson's χ², t-tests and one-way analysis of variance tes

SUBMITTER: Noonan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11816961 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature