Health-related Lifestyle Habits Research Articles

A Study on Fragrance Preference of Aroma Oil by Sleep Habits

The importance of sleep is being emphasized as interest in improving health and quality of life increases. In particular, the use of aroma oil has been expanded as a complementary therapy for sleep disorders. Aroma oil can be selected according to individual preferences and characteristics because it has various effects depending on the type. Therefore, the use of aroma oil suitable for individual preferences and characteristics can have a positive effect on the sleep habits of modern people who value health. Therefore, it is necessary to revitalize the beauty industry by developing customized aroma products based on the diversity of health-related lifestyle habits. In this study, 200 adult women over the age of 20 living in Jeollabuk-do were surveyed for general characteristics, sleep habits, sleep habits type, differences in sleep habits according to general characteristics, aroma oil aroma preference, and aroma oil aroma preference according to sleep habits and general characteristics. For the analysis, frequency analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, cross-analysis, independent sample t-test, one-way variance analysis, and Duncan test were used using the SPSS program. As a result of the analysis, it was found that there was a significant difference in aroma oil preference according to the final academic background and sleep habits of the subjects. In particular, high school graduates tended to prefer the scent of rosemary, the sleep-type group preferred the scent of lemon and lavender, and the insomnia group preferred the scent of rosemary. As such, it was confirmed that individual sleep habits and aroma oil preference were closely related. This is a study that proves the need for aroma product development and marketing, and is intended to be provided as basic data for revitalizing the beauty industry.

Prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among medical students from the Western Balkans (South-East Europe Region).

Being overweight and obese is associated with an elevated risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, which are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. It is a warning that global prevalence of overweight among university students ranges from 20 to 40%, which presents a significant public health problem. To date, there was no research conducted on medical students regarding the prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity in the countries of the Western Balkans (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related behavioral factors associated with overweight and obesity of medical students from Western Balkans. A cross-sectional study was conducted, surveying 2452 students from 14 medical faculties from 5 countries in the region. The prevalence of overweight was 12% and obesity was 2.3% among medical students from Western Balkans. Male gender and smoking status are significant positive predictors of overweight and obesity. Daily level of physical activity up to 1h per day, going to preventive check-ups once a year or as a part of annual dormitory check-ups are associated with lower odds of being overweight and obese. By creating adequate public health educational programs, students can be influenced to acquire proper health-related lifestyle habits, which would lead to reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the student population, as well as risk of developing noncommunicable diseases and improving the overall health of the population.

Exploring relationships between health-related lifestyle habits and fatigue among flight attendants and trainees.

Fatigue in flight attendants is an important issue concerning flight safety and occupational health. It is well known that work-related factors and certain lifestyle habits can cause fatigue. But very few studies have focused on the difference between having work experience flight attendants and no flight experience trainees. The present study was performed to compare and investigate the relationships between fatigue and health-related lifestyle habits among flight attendants and trainees. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted. A total of 107 flight attendants and 109 trainees were recruited in an international airline. The research was using a self-developed health-related lifestyle habits questionnaire and the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) scale. The relationships between health-related lifestyle habits and fatigue were examined by Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was used to identify factors predicting fatigue among flight attendants and trainees. Nearly half of the participants had fatigue and poor health-related lifestyle habits. Logistic regression showed that trainees with sleeping hours less than 7 hours, had a higher probability of fatigue than those who sleep more than 7 hours. In addition, the flight attendants with an irregular sleep pattern, unbalanced diet, sedentary leisure-time, no use relaxation technique, and an exercise frequency below once a week had a higher probability of fatigue. The flight attendants' sleep patterns, diet, activity, and relaxation had a more significant impact on fatigue than trainees. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle is important in this population for good workplace performance.

Factors Influencing Teachers’ Experience of Vocal Fatigue and Classroom Voice Amplification

Voice disorders among teachers are widespread. Teachers' voice problems have been shown to influence the teaching-learning process, thereby impeding students' academic performance. Voice amplification has been used as a preventative strategy to avoid voice problems and as a means of augmenting student reception of a teacher's voice. However, the relationship between perceived vocal fatigue and amplification use has not been established, nor have factors been identified which may be associated with the use of voice amplification in the classroom. This research has two aims: (1) determine the relationship between self-reported vocal fatigue and self-reported teachers' use of sound field amplification in the classroom; and (2) identify which factors are related with the use of amplification systems among the participating teachers. Paper and online surveys were provided to teachers throughout the United States. These surveys contained the 19-question Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), in addition to other questions regarding health-related conditions and lifestyle habits of respondents. Access to and use of amplification systems, as well as other work-related factors that might influence the use of such systems were detailed by the respondents. Regardless of grades levels or measured factors, teachers who reported using amplification systems were more likely to report higher levels of vocal fatigue. Teachers who taught in lower grade levels or in larger capacity classrooms not only reported a greater likelihood of using the systems more frequently, but also reported a greater access to amplification systems. Overall, less than 40% of teachers had access to an amplification system. Teachers of lower grades reported having the least access. Our results suggest an association between teachers' use of voice amplification systems and vocal fatigue. In addition, some work-related factors (eg, grade level, classroom capacity) were associated with the use of amplification systems. The results can be beneficial to teachers, school administrators, lawmakers and health professionals to more efficiently use diminishing educational resources in a targeted fashion to better train and potentially reduce the occurrence of voice problems among teachers.

Associations between Self-Objectification and Lifestyle Habits in a Large Sample of Adolescents.

The aim of the present study was to test associations between self-objectification and health-related lifestyle habits in a large sample of adolescents. In 2019–2020, a large sample of adolescents (n = 1402, 40.4% boys) participated in the survey and, as a part of a larger study, filled in questionnaires on self-objectification and lifestyle. Self-objectification was assessed using the Self-Objectification Questionnaire (SOQ). The lifestyle questionnaire had three batteries: eating attitudes and behaviors, dietary habits, and questions on harmful behaviors together with time spending patterns: sedentary lifestyle and physical activity. The ages ranged from 15–19 years with a mean age of 16.97 ± 0.46 years. Self-objectification (SO) was associated with a less healthy lifestyle: more frequent dieting and unhealthy eating habits in girls, skipping breakfast, and a lower number of meals per day. Adolescent boys and girls with higher SO demonstrated more frequent smoking and alcohol consumption until they felt dizzy and more frequent consumption of soft drinks, energy drinks, and fast foods. Girls with higher SO demonstrated lower perceived physical activity and longer duration of internet browsing for non-educational purposes. The results of the present study inform healthy lifestyle promotion programs for adolescents, suggesting that including psychoeducation about self-objectification, body functionality, and positive embodiment might be an effective strategy.

Well-Being Perception during COVID-19 Pandemic in Healthy Adolescents: From the Avatar Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an extraordinary and naturalistic context to observe young people’s psychosocial profiles and to study how a condition of environmental deprivation and lack of direct social contact, affects the well-being and health status of adolescents. The study explored whether the COVID-19 outbreak changes, in the short term, the acute well-being perception in adolescents, as measured by a Personalized Well-Being Index (PWBI) and the four components affecting health (i.e., lifestyle habits, social context, emotional status, mental skills), in a sample of early adolescent students. Data from 10 schools were collected on 1019 adolescents (males 48.3%, mean age 12.53 ± 1.25 y). Measurements were obtained at two time points, in September/October 2019, (baseline condition, BC) as part of the “A new purpose for promotion and eVAluation of healTh and well-being Among healthy teenageRs” (AVATAR) project and during the Italian Lockdown Phase (mid–late April 2020, LP), with the same students using an online questionnaire. During COVID-19 quarantine, adolescents showed a lower PWBI (p < 0.001) as compared to the BC. Considering the four health-related well-being components, lifestyle habits (p < 0.001), social context (p < 0.001), and emotional status (p < 0.001), showed significantly lower values during LP than BC. However, mental skills, in LP, displayed a significant increase as compared to BC (p < 0.001). In this study, we have provided data on the personalized well-being index and the different components affecting health in adolescents during the COVID-19 lockdown, showing a general decrease in well-being perception, expressed in lifestyle habits, social, and emotional components, demonstrating detrimental effects in the first phase of quarantine on adolescents’ psychosocial profiles. Our results shed new light on adolescence as a crucial period of risk behavior, especially when social support is lacking.

Does Improvement in Health-Related Lifestyle Habits Increase Purpose in Life among a Health Literate Cohort?

A growing number of studies have revealed the association between health-related lifestyle habits and purpose in life. However, the mechanism linking the two has not been adequately understood. This study aims to examine the effect of changes in health-related lifestyle habits on purpose in life. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on certified professional specialists of health management. We analyzed the cohort’s demographic information, health-related lifestyle behaviors, reported changes in health-related lifestyle habits (exercise, diet, sleep, and other habits), and purpose in life using a validated tool (Ikigai-9). The cohort was divided into four groups based on the number of reported changes in health-related lifestyles. The purpose in life score was compared among the four groups with and without adjusting for lifestyle. In total, there were 4820 participants. The means (and SD) of the Ikigai-9 score for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 31.4 (6.6), 32.2 (5.6), 32.8 (5.8), and 34.9 (5.4), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the Ikigai-9 score among the groups. Healthier changes in lifestyle habits increased perceptions of purpose in life. Both purpose in life and health-related lifestyle habits might be the target factors for disease prevention and health promotion.

Health-related lifestyle and perceived health among people with severe mental illness: Gender differences and degree of sense of coherence.

People with severe mental illness (SMI) experience an increased risk of physical ill health and premature death, which appears to be partly related to unhealthy lifestyle habits. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of health-related lifestyle habits and perceived health among people with severe mental illness. A further aim was to explore if there were any gender differences or differences based on degree of sense of coherence. The study adopted a cross-sectional design based on data from 65 people with SMI. The results show that degree of Sense of Coherence (SOC) does have relevance for perceived health and for dimensions of Quality of Life (QOL). Furthermore, among the participants with strong SOC, there were less daily smokers and they seemed to have less sedentary leisure time than those with low SOC. Men reported more anxiety/depression than women and women ate fruit more often than men, otherwise there were no gender differences. In comparison with the general population, people with SMI show a higher Body Mass Index are more sedentary, more often daily smokers, have lower SOC and perceive a lower QOL. This emphasizes the importance of health-promotion support that focuses on lifestyle changes, and support for strengthening SOC and QOL for people with SMI.

Problematic Internet use and its associations with health-related symptoms and lifestyle habits among rural Japanese adolescents.

There have been concerns about the increase in problematic Internet use (PIU) and its impact on lifestyle habits and health-related symptoms, given the rapid spread of smartphones. This study aimed to clarify PIU prevalence over 3 years in the same area and investigate lifestyle and health-related factors related to PIU among junior high-school students in Japan. Each year during 2014-2016, a survey was conducted with junior high-school students from a rural area of Japan (2014, n = 979; 2015, n = 968; 2016, n = 940). Young's Internet Addiction Test was used to assess participants' PIU. Students scoring 40 or higher on the Internet Addiction Test were classified as showing PIU in this study. The associations between PIU and lifestyle factors (e.g., exercise habits, weekday study time, and sleep time) and health-related symptoms (depressive symptoms and orthostatic dysregulation [OD] symptoms) were studied by logistic regression analyses. Over the 3 years, the prevalence of PIU was 19.9% in 2014, 15.9% in 2015, and 17.7% in 2016 without significant change. PIU was significantly associated with skipping breakfast, having a late bedtime (after midnight), and having OD symptoms among students from all grades. Sleepiness after awakening in the morning, less studying time, and depressive symptoms had significant positive associations with PIU, except among 1st grade junior high-school students. Our results suggest that PIU is related to decreased time spent sleeping, studying, and exercising and increased symptoms of depression and OD. Further investigations are needed to develop preventive measures for PIU.

The NutriAct Family Study: a web-based prospective study on the epidemiological, psychological and sociological basis of food choice

BackgroundMost studies on food choice have been focussing on the individual level but familial aspects may also play an important role. This paper reports of a novel study that will focus on the familial aspects of the formation of food choice among men and women aged 50–70 years by recruiting spouses and siblings (NutriAct Family Study; NFS).MethodsData is collected prospectively via repeatedly applied web-based questionnaires over the next years. The recruitment for the NFS started in October 2016. Participants are recruited based on an index person who is actively participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study. This index person was asked to invite the spouse, a sibling or an in-law. If a set of family members agreed to participate, access to individualized web-based questionnaires assessing dietary intake, other health related lifestyle habits, eating behaviour, food responsiveness, personality, self-regulation, socio-economic status and socio-cultural values was provided. In the first phase of the NSF, recruitment rates were monitored in detail and participants’ comments were analysed in order to improve the feasibility of procedures and instruments.DiscussionUntil August 4th 2017, 4783 EPIC-Participants were contacted by mail of which 446 persons recruited 2 to 5 family members (including themselves) resulting in 1032 participants, of whom 82% had started answering or already completed the questionnaires. Of the 4337 remaining EPIC-participants who had been contacted, 1040 (24%) did not respond at all, and 3297 (76%) responded but declined, in 51% of the cases because of the request to recruit at least 2 family members in the respective age range. The developed recruitment procedures and web-based methods of data collection are capable to generate the required study population including the data on individual and inter-personal determinants which will be linkable to food choice. The information on familial links among the study participants will show the role of familial traits in midlife for the adoption of food choices supporting healthy aging.

중국 연변 지역 대학생의 성별과 민족, 거주형태에 따른 건강관련 생활습관 및 식생활 비교

This study aimed to examine the health-related lifestyle habits and eating behaviors according to gender, ethnicity, and residence type of university students in Yanbian, China. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 302 university students. Of the male students, 12.1% and 42.0% were in the underweight and overweight groups, respectively, and of the female subjects, 21.3% and 16.3%, were in those respective groups. More male than female students preferred the overweight body somatotype. In contrast, about 49.4% of female students were hoping to be underweight, and female students had more obvious difficulties with body somatotype perception, whereas their exercise frequency and time spent exercising per day were much less than those of male students. More Chinese than Korean-Chinese subjects exhibited regular eating habits, which included eating at the same time everyday and at the same frequency per day; these habits were, accompanied by generally healthier lifestyle habits regarding regularity of activity and exercise time. Self-boarding students had a significantly higher BMI (<TEX>$23.7{\pm}5.1kg/m^2$</TEX>) and were more likely to be overweight (43.5%) as compared to students who lived in a dormitory or with family. Salty taste was preferred by Chinese students more than Korean-Chinese students, and greasy taste was preferred by Korean-Chinese students as compared with Chinese students. This study found that inherent and environmental factors are related with the dietary behaviors of university students in Yanbian, China. Further studies are required to elucidate the structural elements of family life and the sociocultural factors associated with dietary behaviors in Yanbian.

Weight loss effects of Bariatric Surgery after nutrition education in extremely obese patients*

Purpose: This study was planned to determine the characteristics of extremely obese patients during Bariatric surgery and to evaluate how the difference in the number of postsurgical personal nutritional educations they received affected the weight loss. Methods: This is a retrospective study on the basis of the medical records of extremely obese patients for 15 months after receiving gastric banding. A total of 60 people were selected as the study subjects and they were divided into the Less Educated Group and the More Educated Group according to the average number of personal nutritional educations they received. We investigated both groups to determine the general characteristic, health related lifestyle habits, obesity related complications and symptoms in possession, and eating habits before their surgery, the body composition measurement result, obesity determination indices at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months before and after their surgery, and the biochemical parameters at 6 months before and after their surgery. Results: Body fat and weight showed rapid reduction until 6 months after the surgery, but thereafter reduced slowly depending on the result of body composition measurement. Regarding body fat and weight, the More Educated Group, who received nutrition education more often, showed significantly lower levels than the Less Educated Group at 15 months after surgery. Regarding BMI and degree of obesity, the More Educated Group showed significantly lower levels than the Less Educated Group at 15 months after surgery. Here, we were assured that BMI is reversely proportional to the number of personal nutritional educations at 15 months, which is more outstanding after surgery than before surgery. Conclusion: Long-term nutritional education is a key factor for the extremely obese patient in maintaining the effects of Bariatric surgery on weight and body fat reduction onwards. In the next stage, considering the characteristics of the study subjects, adoption of individual nutrition education is recommended for postsurgical prospective arbitration of obesity in order to monitor blood pressure, obesity related complications, symptoms in possession, and how eating habits and health related life habits change, and to judge the actual effect of the nutritional education method at the same time.

Weight loss effects of Bariatric Surgery after nutrition education in extremely obese patients*

Purpose: This study was planned to determine the characteristics of extremely obese patients during Bariatric surgery and to evaluate how the difference in the number of postsurgical personal nutritional educations they received affected the weight loss. Methods: This is a retrospective study on the basis of the medical records of extremely obese patients for 15 months after receiving gastric banding. A total of 60 people were selected as the study subjects and they were divided into the Less Educated Group and the More Educated Group according to the average number of personal nutritional educations they received. We investigated both groups to determine the general characteristic, health related lifestyle habits, obesity related complications and symptoms in possession, and eating habits before their surgery, the body composition measurement result, obesity determination indices at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months before and after their surgery, and the biochemical parameters at 6 months before and after their surgery. Results: Body fat and weight showed rapid reduction until 6 months after the surgery, but thereafter reduced slowly depending on the result of body composition measurement. Regarding body fat and weight, the More Educated Group, who received nutrition education more often, showed significantly lower levels than the Less Educated Group at 15 months after surgery. Regarding BMI and degree of obesity, the More Educated Group showed significantly lower levels than the Less Educated Group at 15 months after surgery. Here, we were assured that BMI is reversely proportional to the number of personal nutritional educations at 15 months, which is more outstanding after surgery than before surgery. Conclusion: Long-term nutritional education is a key factor for the extremely obese patient in maintaining the effects of Bariatric surgery on weight and body fat reduction onwards. In the next stage, considering the characteristics of the study subjects, adoption of individual nutrition education is recommended for postsurgical prospective arbitration of obesity in order to monitor blood pressure, obesity related complications, symptoms in possession, and how eating habits and health related life habits change, and to judge the actual effect of the nutritional education method at the same time.

Testicular Self‐Examination in Young Adult Men

To describe patterns of testicular self-examination (TSE) in a sample of young adult men and to identify factors distinguishing between men who do and do not practice TSE. A comparative descriptive design with a convenience sample of 191 adult men aged 18-35 years, recruited from a large industrial complex in the U.S. Midwest. Data were collected during several occupational health fairs held from 1999-2001. A self-report, 75-item health risk appraisal (HRA) was administered to identify health-related lifestyle habits. Men who did and did not perform TSE regularly were compared using Mann-Whitney U statistics for discrete variables and t tests for continuous data. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify factors allowing prediction of frequent or infrequent TSE performance. Sixty-four percent of 191 participants reported rarely or never performing TSE, and 36% practiced TSE monthly or every few months. Men who infrequently performed TSE were more often African American or Hispanic and had less than a college education. Other significant factors associated with infrequent TSE practice included less satisfaction with current job assignment; less satisfaction with life in general; greater worries interfering with daily life; more serious family problems in dealing with spouse, children, or parents; and reduced availability of people to turn to for support. Demographic and socioeconomic variables were related to TSE knowledge and performance. Further investigation is required to determine why men, especially ethnic minority men, are not performing this important cancer-screening activity.

A Comprehensive Preseason Fitness Evaluation for Professional Baseball Players.

In brief: Preseason health and fitness evaluations were performed on 40 professional baseball players to assess level of conditioning, potential for injury, and health-related lifestyle habits. Group means for coronary risk profile, muscular endurance, flexibility, and maximum aerobic capacity were normal, but screening identified many players with problems or potential problems. Test findings resulted in at least one training or life-style recommendation in every player tested. This information provides a comprehensive physiological profile of one professional baseball team. Further research is needed to define sport-specific testing for the professional baseball player.