PDF Assessment of Health Behaviours and Factors Associated with Protective and Risky Health Behaviours among Postgraduate Students in a Tertiary Institution in South West, Nigeria

Abstract

Postgraduate students often engage in risky health behaviours despite the benefits of healthy practices. This study assessed the prevalence and determinants of healthy or risky health behaviours among postgraduate students at the University of Ibadan. A cross-sectional survey of 400 postgraduate students was conducted using multistage random sampling. Data were collected via self-administered structured and validated questionnaires, analysing health behaviours and associated factors. Healthy and risky behaviours were measured using standardized instruments: the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) for protective behaviours, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) for risky behaviours like harmful alcohol use, poor sleep, and psychological distress. IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were reported using frequency tables and charts. Bivariate and multivariable analysis were conducted to examine the factors associated with healthy and risky health behaviours. Significance associations were set at p ≤ 0.05. Respondents were predominantly female (53.5%), young adults (96.8%), and single (84.8%). Significant associations included gender and good dieting (p < 0.001), while alcohol use was associated with gender (p = 0.001), religion (p = 0.005), ethnicity (p = 0.034), and accommodation mode (p = 0.020). Off-campus residents reported higher alcohol consumption and psychological distress (p = 0.035). Binary logistic regression revealed that females had higher odds of psychological distress (AOR=2.76), and students with light academic workloads had significantly higher odds of tobacco use (AOR=7.02). While physical activity and dietary habits were encouraging, psychological distress and fast-food consumption remain areas concerns. Gender, religion, and living arrangements significantly impact health behaviours, highlighting the need for targeted health promotion strategies focused on mental health support and healthy lifestyle promotion among postgraduate students.