Association between Life Style and Health Behaviour with Self-reported Academic Performance among University Students in Gaza Strip, Palestine, Amal Sarsour, Maged Yassin and Hatem Alharazin
Amal Sarsour
Earth and Human Center for Researchers and Studies, Palestine;
School of Public Health, Al Quds University
Maged Yassin
Earth and Human Center for Researchers and Studies, Palestine;
Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine
Hatem Alharazin
Earth and Human Center for Researchers and Studies, Palestine;
Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Al-Azhar University, Palestine
Purpose: To investigate health behaviours and lifestyle correlates of self-reported academic performance among university students in Gaza Strip.
Design/methods: The Cross-sectional study conducted in six universities and three colleges of Gaza, Palestine. This included 1438 students (806 females, 632 males; mean age 20.6 years ± SD 2.6 years). Anonymous self-reported questionnaires were used to assess the association between sociodemographic variables and health behaviour, and academic performance.
Findings: In multiple linear regression, socio-demographic factors (younger age, gender, the insufficient amount of money and intrinsic religiosity), health behaviours (eating salad and raw vegetables, low levels of physical activity), and receiving social support were found to be associated with self-reported academic performance. However, this study did not find an association between smoking, alcohol use and illicit drug use with academic performance.
Social implications: Despite the prevalence of some positive behaviours of the Gaza Strip students, they still need comprehensive health promotion programmes about their health and well-being. This may have the potential to influence the university students’ academic achievement in a positive manner.
Originality/Value: This is the first study conducted to investigate health behaviours and lifestyle correlates of self-reported academic performance among university students in Gaza Strip.
Keywords: Association between Life Style and Health Behaviour with Self-reported Academic Performance among University Students in Gaza Strip Palestine.
