Academic Quality Department, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Bekaa, Lebanon.
BMC Public Health. 2023 Jun 26;23(1):1228. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16184-8.
High academic achievement, an important determinant of future success, is known to be influenced by many factors including dietary behavior, lifestyle and mental health, among others. The objectives of the current study were to explore university students' nutritive habits, daily lifestyle, and mental status, and to scrutinize the associations between these factors and students' academic achievement.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of a private Lebanese university, using an electronic survey. Diet, eating habits, physical activity, sleep, and smoking were evaluated, and mental health was assessed using a validated Arabic version of the combined Depression, Anxiety, Stress Score (DASS-8). Academic achievement was measured using the Subjective Academic Achievement Scale (SAAS).
A total of 1677 students participated in the questionnaire. The results of a linear regression taking the SAAS score as the dependent variable, showed that students who have a non-scientific versus scientific major (Beta = 0.53), and having breakfast ≥ 4 days per week compared to less than 2 days (Beta = 0.28) were significantly associated with higher SAAS scores. More psychological distress (Beta = - 0.06) and a higher number of days of eating out (Beta = - 0.07) were significantly associated with lower SAAS scores.
This is the first investigation on a Lebanese university students' academic success in relation to lifestyle and mental profiles. Better academic achievement was demonstrated by students having healthier dietary and lifestyle habits, as well as less distressing mental status. Such results, in light of the compounded and unprecedented crises with which Lebanon has been assailed, suggest the need to focus on promoting healthy habits among students in higher education as a possible driver of better academic success.
学术成就较高是未来成功的重要决定因素，其受到多种因素的影响，包括饮食行为、生活方式和心理健康等。本研究的目的是探讨大学生的营养习惯、日常生活方式和心理健康状况，并研究这些因素与学生学业成绩之间的关联。
本研究采用横断面研究，对一所黎巴嫩私立大学的学生进行了电子问卷调查。评估了饮食、饮食习惯、体育活动、睡眠和吸烟情况，并使用经过验证的阿拉伯语版综合抑郁、焦虑和压力量表（DASS-8）评估了心理健康状况。使用主观学业成就量表（SAAS）衡量学业成绩。
共有 1677 名学生参与了问卷调查。以 SAAS 得分为因变量的线性回归结果显示，与科学专业学生相比，非科学专业学生（β=0.53）以及每周吃早餐≥4 天的学生（β=0.28）的 SAAS 得分显著更高。心理困扰程度更高（β=-0.06）和外出就餐天数更多（β=-0.07）与 SAAS 得分显著降低相关。
这是首次针对黎巴嫩大学生生活方式和心理特征与学业成功之间的关系进行的调查。具有更健康饮食和生活方式习惯以及心理压力更小的学生表现出更好的学业成绩。鉴于黎巴嫩所面临的复杂且前所未有的危机，这些结果表明有必要关注促进高等教育学生养成健康习惯，这可能是提高学业成绩的一个驱动因素。
