A Gender-based Comparison in Health Behaviors and State of Happiness among University Students

Objective: The presence of good healthy behaviors among university students is imperative for their future life. This study aimed to compare positive health behaviors and state of happiness between the two genders of Bahria University (BU), Karachi, Pakistan.Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at BU, Karachi, Pakistan. A total 813 students participated in this study. The healthquestionnaire, adapted from Health and Behavior Survey and the Subjective Happiness Scale, was used to assess self-reported happiness. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22.Results: Overall self-reported health behaviors were found to be more prevalent in females as compared to males, but males reported a better self-reported general health (p = 0.012). Testicular and breast self-examination was not common in both genders. Smoking was found to be more common in males (p \u3c 0.01). Males exhibited habit of regular breakfast (p = 0.013) whereas females showed a tendency to avoid food rich in cholesterol and fat (p \u3c 0.01) and the practice of consuming food rich in fiber was found to be more prevalent among females (p \u3c 0.01) and they showed urge to lose weight (p \u3c 0.01). Sleep disturbance was found in both genders, more so in females (p = 0.012). Consciousness about dental hygiene was common in females (p \u3c 0.01). As compared to the females, more males strongly believe that they are very happy in life (p \u3c 0.01), and they make the most out of everything in life (p \u3c 0.01).Conclusion: There was a diverse response to positve health behaviors and state of hapiness in both genders

Self-reported academic performance in relation to health behaviours among Bahria University students

Objective: To find an association between self-reported academic performance with different socio-demographic factors, health behaviours and mental health amongst university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bahria University, Karachi, from January 2012 to December 2013, and comprised university students of different disciplines. An anonymous, self-reported questionnaire was distributed among the subjects. Convenient sampling technique was used. Demographic information, including age, gender and field of study, were obtained. Depresion was evaluated via Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. SPSS 22 was used to analyse data.Results: Of the 813 respondents, 334(41.1%) were males and 479(58.9%) females. The mean age was 19.9±1.8 years. Overall, 126(15.5%) subjects reported excellent, 242(29.8%) very good, 310(38.1%) good, 100(12.3%) satisfactory and 35(4.3%) not satisfactory academic performance. Residential status of students played a significant role on their academic performance (p=0.011). Breakfast eating behaviour depicted a significant association with the academic performance (p=0.04).The proportion of unsatisfactory academic performances among students having severe sleep disorder was the highest, followed by mild/moderate (p=0.01). The depression scale\u27s item \u27troubling in mind\u27 was highly associated with academic performance (p\u3c0.05).Conclusions: A constructive association existed among healthy behaviours and academic performance.

Premenstrual syndrome: Existence, knowledge, and attitude among female university students in Karachi

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the existence, knowledge, and the attitude of female students towards premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three universities in Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 448 female students participated in the study. The clinical criterion of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for PMS was used to assess the prevalence of PMS in the participants. The questionnaire was set in four parts, one each to assess the knowledge, the attitude, and practices regarding PMS and one to assess the gap between self-perceived PMS and actual PMS. Data were analyzed descriptively using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY).Results: The majority (96.4%) of female students were aware of PMS, while only 19% females knew about premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The self-reported prevalence of PMS was 79.5% and the prevalence using the ACOG criteria was 23.9%. Common symptoms were irritability, angry outbursts, depression, breast tenderness, and gastrointestinal problems. More than half (60.4%) of the participants reported PMS disturbed their normal routine, while 81.5% reported stress exacerbated their symptoms. The majority (77.5%) of women believed PMS was a significant issue to be discussed but 49.4% did not take treatment for their PMS.Conclusion: There is a significant impact of PMS in the lives of Pakistani women, and it is a common problem all over the globe. Despite the growing awareness, there remains a considerable deficiency of knowledge about the necessity to consult a doctor or seek treatment for their symptoms