Gender as a determinant of lifestyle in young university students

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Lifestyles is part of the subject's personal decisions, resulting from the exposure and interaction of factors such as living conditions, behavior patterns, socio-cultural elements, a set of norms, habits, and routines, which affect negatively or positively the health, but since it is a personal decision, it is detached from determinants such as gender. Therefore, the objective of the study was to identify the differences in the lifestyle of university students according to gender. Methods Analytical cross-sectional study. The FANTASTIC questionnaire was applied to 187 students with an average age of 20.5 years from the Santo Tomás University in Bogotá and Bucaramanga, Colombia. A chi-square test was performed for each qualitative question and an ANOVA for the quantitative data resulting from each factor, taking gender as the basis of analysis. Statistical analyzes were processed in SPSS 25.0, at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Results It was found that women walk daily for more than 30 minutes (p = 0.00; 95% OR: +4.0 women); men are more likely to smoke (p = 0.001; 95% OR: +2.6 men) and drive after drinking alcohol (p = 0.012; 95% OR: +2.5 men); performance of periodic medical check-ups (p = 0.007; 95% OR: +2.0 men) and compliance with traffic orders (p = 0.004: 95% OR: +2.9 men) and seat belt use (p = 0.006; 95% OR: +1.0 men) is higher in men. Significant differences were found between tobacco consumption (p = 0.001), and alcohol (p = 0.013), physical activity (p = 0.011) and other behaviors (p = 0.001). Conclusions Men are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as tobacco and alcohol consumption and less physical activity; therefore, gender is a determining factor for the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits. Key messages The lifestyle of the university population is influenced by gender, which is why promotion and prevention campaigns must be differential between men and women. Sex is a determining factor for a healthy lifestyle.