Health risk behaviors and perceived loneliness Among University students in Kirkuk/Iraq

High-risk behaviors are among the most serious threats to the physical and mental health of young adults. The aim of this study is to examine health risk behaviors and perceived loneliness levels in university students. This study is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. A purposeful random sample was taken from 240 students. 128 (53.3%) of the students participating in the study were females and 112 (46.7%) were males, and the mean age was 22.62 (SD = 3.15). Data were collected from students at Kirkuk University/Iraq through face-to-face interviews with students between 15 November 2022 and 15 January 2023. The students answered the questions directed to them without the intervention of the researcher. Each interview lasted approximately 15 minutes. The data collection tool of the research consists of three parts. The first part is the sociodemographic form that includes age, gender, grade, father education, mother education and monthly income. The second part is the General Student Health Questionnaire (GSHS), which represents eight areas and contains 57 questions. The third part is the Loneliness Scale, which consists of 20 Likert type scored items. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 26. The results showed that 65.8% of the students were in the fourth grade, 32.9% of the students' father had a university degree, 34.2% of students' mother had a primary school degree, and 53.8% of them had income to cover their expenses. When the body mass indexes of the students were examined, it was seen that 41.7% were at normal weight, 27% were overweight and 31.3% were obese. The study also found that males' GSHS scores and loneliness scores were significantly higher than females'. When the grade levels of the students were examined, it was seen that the GSHS and loneliness scores of the students at the first level were higher than those of the students at the other levels. Regarding the father's education, the GSHS and loneliness scores of the students whose fathers were illiterate were found to be higher than the other education levels. According to the educational status of the mothers, the GSHS scores of the students whose mothers were secondary school graduates and the loneliness scores of those whose mothers were primary school graduates were higher than the others. While the GSHS score of the students whose monthly income is less than their expenses is higher, the loneliness levels of the students whose monthly income is more than their expenses were found to be higher. In addition, the GSHS and loneliness levels of obese students were found to be higher than those of normal weight and overweight students. Finally, a very high (r = .71, p < .000) correlation was found between the loneliness levels and the General Student Health Questionnaire score of the students. According to this result, as students' loneliness scores increase, negative health behaviors increase. University is an important period in which lifelong habits are acquired. Therefore, preventive intervention programs in this period will prevent the transfer of health risk behaviors to the later stages of life. In this context, it is important for universities to provide services, such as healthy foods, adequate and easy accessible sport facilities, that will support students' health behaviors. Implementing educational programs that focus on raising awareness among students about the importance of healthy living is another preventive approach that universities can offer. In addition, supporting activities that will strengthen students' social relations will help reduce the loneliness levels of students.