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Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline

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  • Verónica Varela-Mato

    (Faculty of Education and Sports Science, University of Vigo, Xunqueira Campus, Pontevedra 36005, Spain)

  • José M. Cancela

    (Faculty of Education and Sports Science, University of Vigo, Xunqueira Campus, Pontevedra 36005, Spain)

  • Carlos Ayan

    (Faculty of Education and Sports Science, University of Vigo, Xunqueira Campus, Pontevedra 36005, Spain)

  • Vicente Martín

    (IBIOMED, University of Leon, Vegazana Campus, León 24400, Spain)

  • Antonio Molina

    (IBIOMED, University of Leon, Vegazana Campus, León 24400, Spain)

Abstract

Today the need to analyze health behaviour from a gender perspective is as imminent as ever, particularly at university, where the number of women who register is on the rise and has exceeded the number of male students worldwide. We carried out a prevalence study aimed at analyzing Spanish university students’ lifestyles and identify differences according to gender and academic discipline. Of 3,646 eligible subjects doing university courses related to health (Group A), education (Group B) and other professions (Group C), 985 (27.0%) participated in the study. Information was elicited about their physical activity level, disturbed eating attitudes, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated according to sex and kind of academic discipline. The obtained data confirmed that only 27.4% of the students were considered as sufficiently active, while 14.9% of them suffered from disturbed eating attitudes (DEA). Women were particularly less active (OR 0.46 (0.32–0.66); p p = 0.03). Binge drinking was more frequent in female than in male students (OR 1.79 (1.29–2.47); p = 0.0004). A third of the analyzed sample admitted that they had used illegal substances, while a lower consumption prevalence was found in women (OR 0.53 (0.40–0.71); p

Suggested Citation

  • Verónica Varela-Mato & José M. Cancela & Carlos Ayan & Vicente Martín & Antonio Molina, 2012. "Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:8:p:2728-2741:d:19209
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Denton, Margaret & Prus, Steven & Walters, Vivienne, 2004. "Gender differences in health: a Canadian study of the psychosocial, structural and behavioural determinants of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(12), pages 2585-2600, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cristina Corella & Javier Zaragoza & José Antonio Julián & Víctor Hugo Rodríguez-Ontiveros & Carlos Tomás Medrano & Inmaculada Plaza & Alberto Abarca-Sos, 2019. "Improving Physical Activity Levels and Psychological Variables on University Students in the Contemplation Stage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Patricia C. García-Suárez & Iván Rentería & Priscilla García Wong-Avilés & Fernanda Franco-Redona & Luis M. Gómez-Miranda & Jorge A. Aburto-Corona & Eric P. Plaisance & José Moncada-Jiménez & Alberto , 2020. "Hemodynamic Adaptations Induced by Short-Term Run Interval Training in College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-11, June.
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    4. Andrea Bickerdike & Joan Dinneen & Cian O’Neill, 2019. "‘A Healthy CIT’: An Investigation into Student Health Metrics, Lifestyle Behaviours and the Predictors of Positive Mental Health in an Irish Higher Education Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Ramón Chacón-Cuberos & Félix Zurita-Ortega & Eva María Olmedo-Moreno & Rosario Padial-Ruz & Manuel Castro-Sánchez, 2018. "An Exploratory Model of Psychosocial Factors and Healthy Habits in University Students of Physical Education Depending on Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Juan Jose Crespo-Salgado & Alicia Blanco-Moure, 2013. "Comments on Varela-Mato, V.; Cancela, J.M.; Ayan, C.; Martín, V.; Molina, A. Lifestyle and Health among Spanish University Students: Differences by Gender and Academic Discipline. Int. J. Environ. Res," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-2, August.
    7. Miquel Pans & Joan Úbeda-Colomer & Javier Monforte & José Devís-Devís, 2021. "Physical Activity and Accomplishment of Recommendations in University Students with Disabilities: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    8. Jorge Acebes-Sánchez & Ignacio Diez-Vega & Gabriel Rodriguez-Romo, 2019. "Physical Activity among Spanish Undergraduate Students: A Descriptive Correlational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-13, August.
    9. Elena-Simona Indreica & Georgian Badicu & Hadi Nobari, 2022. "Exploring the Correlation between Time Management, the Mediterranean Diet, and Physical Activity: A Comparative Study between Spanish and Romanian University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, February.
    10. Manuel Pulido-Martos & Daniel Cortés-Denia & Juan José de la Rosa-Blanca & Esther Lopez-Zafra, 2020. "The Shirom-Melamed Vigor Measure for Students: Factorial Analysis and Construct Validity in Spanish Undergraduate University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Laura Delgado-Lobete & Rebeca Montes-Montes & Alba Vila-Paz & José-Manuel Cruz-Valiño & Berta Gándara-Gafo & Miguel-Ángel Talavera-Valverde & Sergio Santos-del-Riego, 2020. "Individual and Environmental Factors Associated with Tobacco Smoking, Alcohol Abuse and Illegal Drug Consumption in University Students: A Mediating Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-16, April.
    12. Atika Khalaf & Örjan Ekblom & Jan Kowalski & Vanja Berggren & Albert Westergren & Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa, 2013. "Female University Students’ Physical Activity Levels and Associated Factors—A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.

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