Relationships among Lifestyle, Depression, Anxiety, and Reproductive Health in Female University Students

The experiences of menstrual symptom changes among international students studying in China during the acculturation period: A phenomenology study

Objectives

Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon among female which could be influenced by the process of acculturation. Few studies have explored the experience of menstrual symptom changes among international female students studying in China. Therefore, this paper aims to summarize international female students' experiences of menstrual symptom changes when they were studying in China and interpret these changes through considering the influence of acculturation on their social and academic lives.

Methods

We used a descriptive phenomenology approach. Structured in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted between May and November 2019 among ten international female students studying in one Province located in south central China. Participants were those who reported having experienced menstrual symptom changes during the acculturation period, which was defined as the first six months of living in China. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 11.0 with the guidance of Colaizzi's seven-step method.

Results

The international female students' experiences of menstrual symptom changes were summarized and grouped into five main categories and 13 subcategories. The main categories include: 1) demonstration of menstrual symptom changes, 2) challenges of maintaining menstrual function in the new setting, 3) coping styles to take care of menstrual health, 4) consequences of the menstrual symptom changes, and 5) culture-based attitude toward menstruation.

Conclusions

International female students reported experiences of menstrual symptom changes, including somatic and psychological symptoms during the acculturation period. Culture barriers, academic stress, and sleep patterns are common factors influencing their menstrual symptom changes. More culturally-tailored interventions should be explored to improve the menstrual health of international female students in China.

Applying Latent Profile Analysis to Identify Lifestyle Profiles and Their Association with Loneliness and Quality of Life among Community-Dwelling Middle- and Older-Aged Adults in South Korea

This study aimed to examine the multi-faceted lifestyle profiles of community-dwelling middle- and older-aged adults based on their physical activity, participation in various activities, and nutrition. It identified the association of lifestyle profiles with demographic variables, quality of life, and mental health. The analysis included 569 participants (mean age = 60.2; SD = 4.3). Latent profile analysis identified three distinctive lifestyle profiles: "inactive and unbalanced" (36.4%), "basic life maintenance" (54.6%), and "active and balanced" (9.1%). Sex (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), and regular medication intake (p < 0.01) were statistically significantly different among the three profiles. Of the "inactive and unbalanced" lifestyle group, 63.3% of it was comprised of by females, and a relatively large distribution was aged over 65. In the "basic life maintenance" subgroup, males showed a relatively large distribution, and 92.6% of participants were aged 55-64. People with active and balanced lifestyles demonstrated high quality of life levels (p < 0.001) and low loneliness levels (p < 0.01). Multinomial logistic regression revealed a statistically significant positive association between lifestyle profiles and quality of life (p < 0.001) as well as mental health (p < 0.01). Therefore, health promotion that considers multi-faceted lifestyle factors would need to improve health and quality of life among community-dwelling middle- and older-aged adults in South Korea.

Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Health-Promoting Behavior, Psychological Distress and Reproductive Health of Overweight and Obese Female College Students

This study aimed to examine the effect of a lifestyle intervention (LSI) on overweight or obese female university students. Participants: A total of 53 overweight or obese female college students participated. This study was conducted from May to December 2017 in Jeonbuk Province, South Korea. A quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest was used. The LSI consisted of providing health information, individual health counseling, lifestyle monitoring, and effective support based on the interaction model of client health behavior, which was implemented for 12 weeks. Significant group differences were found in health-promoting behavior, psychological distress, reproductive health, body weight, body fat, and triglyceride level among participants. LSIs are effective in improving health-promoting behavior, psychological distress, reproductive health, and body composition. Therefore, healthcare providers should develop and apply LSIs through interaction for overweight or obese female college students.

The Big Three Health Behaviors and Mental Health and Well-Being Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Sleep, Exercise, and Diet

BACKGROUND

Sleep, physical activity, and diet have been associated with mental health and well-being individually in young adults. However, which of these "big three" health behaviors most strongly predicts mental health and well-being, and their higher-order relationships in predictive models, is less known. This study investigated the differential and higher-order associations between sleep, physical activity, and dietary factors as predictors of mental health and well-being in young adults.

METHOD

In a cross-sectional survey design, 1,111 young adults (28.4% men) ages 18-25 from New Zealand and the United States answered an online survey measuring typical sleep quantity and quality; physical activity; and consumption of raw and processed fruit and vegetables, fast food, sweets, and soda, along with extensive covariates (including demographics, socioeconomic status, body mass index, alcohol use, smoking, and health conditions) and the outcome measures of depressive symptoms [measured by the Center for Epidemiological Depression Scale (CES-D)] and well-being (measured by the Flourishing Scale).

RESULTS

Controlling for covariates, sleep quality was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms and well-being, followed by sleep quantity and physical activity. Only one dietary factor-raw fruit and vegetable consumption-predicted greater well-being but not depressive symptoms when controlling for covariates. There were some higher-order interactions among health behaviors in predicting the outcomes, but these did not survive cross-validation.

CONCLUSION

Sleep quality is an important predictor of mental health and well-being in young adults, whereas physical activity and diet are secondary but still significant factors. Although strictly correlational, these patterns suggest that future interventions could prioritize sleep quality to maximize mental health and well-being in young adults.

Gender Differences and Relationships among Lifestyle and Reproductive Health in University Students

PURPOSE

University students happen to be in a transitional period at the beginning of one's adult life and thereby establish the basis for their health care. The negative lifestyles followed by students during this period can also affect their reproductive health. The purpose of this study was to identify lifestyle, reproductive health, gender differences and relationships between lifestyle and reproductive health in university students.

METHODS

We used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 300 subjects were enrolled. Data were collected using structured questionnaires between October 11 and 25, 2017 and analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Subjects agreed to undergo a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) and reproductive health (knowledge, attitude, and behaviors).

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 21.4 years. HPLP-II and reproductive health behaviors were significantly different between the genders. The scores of physical activity and nutrition in females were significantly lower than males. The scores of safe sex and sexual responsibility in females were significantly higher than males, and the score of genital health management was significantly lower in females than males. High HPLP-II score was observed to be in correlation with high reproductive health attitudes and behaviors.

CONCLUSION

The result revealed differences in lifestyle and reproductive health between both the genders. For improvement of reproductive health of university students, provision of lifestyle intervention including healthy nutritional habits and physical activity is imperative.