Healthy life attitudes and behaviors of Adnan Menderes University 1st and 4th year students

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate health attitudes and behaviors of Adnan Menderes University 1st and 4th years students. The reason why this Project has been conducted at 1st and 4th years students was to determine the contributions of university period on the health attitudes, behaviors and beliefs of the students.Method: Several health related parameters were investigated at this study. The freshman and 4th years students were subjected to `evaluating healthy life questioner?, including 44 questions, under controlled environment. All answers given to the sociodemographic part of the questioner were evaluated within 19 points scale. And the sociodemographic levels of the students were divided into 4 groups such as lower sociodemographic level (SDL)(5-8); Moderate lower SDL (9-12 points), Upper moderate SDL (13-16 points), and High (upper) SDL (17-19 points). The physical activity of the students were evaluated by using 7 questions ( (International Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ). The results obtained from answer then were evaluated by multiplying some index measures in order to determine MET values for activities. Then MET values of all activities were added each other in order to determine total MET values.The food was divided in to g group (meat, legumines, milk and products, vegetables, fruits and bread). The students were asked their consumption frequencies and amounts of these foodstuffs within several periods. The behavioral changes and students? stages in this process were evaluated as explained by Procheska ve Norcross (2001).Results: 69.3% of the students attaining 1st and 4th years of the universities (except Tourism Faculty) joined to this search. The mean age of the students was 21,1±2,2 (17 ? 33). 54% of the students investigated were female and 46% were male. A great majority of the parents were graduated just from primary school. More than ¾ of the mothers were housewife whereas31,6% of fathers were working commercial area and 31,1% were civil servant. Students were generally from moderate lower SDL. 41.8% of the students were finding their educational fees insufficient and definitely insufficient. 4th year students and male students were drinking alcohol significantly higher than 1st year students and females. Socioeconomic level was positively affecting the levels of drinking (p<0,001). The 4th year students and male students were smoking significantly higher than 1st year students and females (p<0,001). Male students were found to more addictive to illicit drugs than females. Increased socioeconomic level caused higher consumption of meat and milk products in the students (r=0,183 ; p<0,001ve * r=0,113; p<0,001). For the changes of physical activity behaviors, male students were found to be at the maintenance stage whereas females were action stage.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that 1st and 4th years of the students of Adnan Menderes University were from moderate lower SDL and their meat and milk products consumption were generally lower than the students coming from the other socioeconomic groups. 25.35% of the students were considered to be insufficiently active. Physical activity was found to be correlated with gender and family type. Female students, mostly feeling their health in a good condition and paying attention to their oral care, but male students were generally taking health risks due to their attitudes toward to drinking and smoking. However, male students had higher physical activity than females and higher numbers of male students did not have any intentions to change their eating behaviors.