“Empowering Health: Evaluating Health-Promoting Behavior of Taibah University Students in Saudi Arabia”

Abstract

Background: Health-promoting behaviors are crucial for maintaining well-being, especially among university students who face various lifestyle challenges. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate Taibah University students’ Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profiles in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the influence of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) on health-related behaviors. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. A total of 397 valid questionnaires were analyzed. A systematic random sampling method was employed, selecting every 20th student from predetermined lists to ensure a balanced representation, with 100 students from each college. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the validated Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). Results: Most participants had a normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), with 71.4% of males and 63.3% of females classified as normal weight. Underweight status was more prevalent among females (23.4%) than males (13.4%) (χ² = 7.973, p = .047), and obesity was rare (2.8% in males, 0.9% in females). Females had significantly higher health responsibility scores (M = 24.99, SD = 6.74) compared to males (M = 23.41, SD = 7.19) (t = 2.252, p = .025). They were more engaged in health-promoting behaviors, with 66.1% of females classified at a high HPLP-II level versus 41.3% of males. Younger females (>20 years) exhibited significantly higher physical activity scores (M = 22.67, SD = 5.22) than older females (>20 years) (M = 19.93, SD = 6.87) (p = .004). Conclusion: Females demonstrated higher health responsibility and engagement in health-promoting activities than males, with younger females being more physically active. Body mass index significantly influences spiritual growth and overall health behaviors, highlighting the importance of considering demographic and anthropometric factors in health promotion strategies among university students.