Predictors of Health-Promoting Lifestyle among Students with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background & aim: The problem of dysmenorrhea has not yet been controlled despite the various managements available for it. Among those, a health-promoting lifestyle is recognized as a key factor to prevent the progression of many diseases since health promotion are directly related to lifestyle-related behaviors. This study assessed predictors of health-promoting lifestyle among university students with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 students with primary dysmenorrhea from October to February 2018. The subjects were selected from the students of the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran, using a proportionate stratified sampling method. The instruments used to collect data consisted of a demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, General Self-efficacy Scale, and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. The general linear model was used to estimate the impact of each independent variable on the dependent variables using SPSS software (version 21). Results: The mean scores of health-promoting lifestyle, general self-efficacy, and depression were obtained as 141.16±18.41, 57.81±8.1, and 11.8±10.5, respectively. There was a significant relationship between health-promoting lifestyle with self-efficacy and depression (p <0.001). Based on the general linear model, the relationship of the total score of a health-promoting lifestyle was significant with the general self-efficacy, depression, and regular physical activity (p <0.05). Students with high self-efficacy, low depression, and regular physical activity achieved higher health-promoting lifestyle scores. Conclusion: It is recommended thatschools’ health policymakers should consider physical activities and psychological factors through offering educational and cultural programs, as well as paying greater attention than before to these dimensions.

Keywords

• predictor
• health-promoting lifestyle
• self-efficacy
• student
• primary dysmenorrhea