Health-promoting behaviour of university students, based on the Health Behaviour Inventory and on selected laboratory indicators of their health status

Introduction
To limit the deterioration of health later in life, it is important for young adults to adopt principles of healthy lifestyle and of positive health behaviour as early as possible. Aim of the research was to assess health behaviour in correct eating habits (CEH), health preventive measures (HPM), positive mental attitude (PMA), positive health-maintaining practices (PHMP) and in selected laboratory tests.

Material and methods
The study concerned 115 young adults, first-year university students. The Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI) questionnaire was used to examine their health behaviour. Laboratory tests included measurements of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and trigly­ceride concentrations, and glucose and insulin levels in blood samples.

Results
In the study group, the mean HBI General Index value was 4.6 ± 1.8 stens. The highest mean score (3.27 ± 0.81 points) was observed in the PMA subscale (compared with 3.52 ± 0.66 points in the normalized HBI test by Juczyński), while the lowest (3.11 ± 76 points) was found in the CEH subscale (compared with 3.22 ± 0.76 in the HBI test). Statistically significant correlations were noted between insulin level and HBI General Index value (rs = –0.21, p = 0.030) and between insulin level and CEH (rs = –0.29, p = 0.002). Moreover, a statistically significant correlation between level of triglycerides and HPM (rs = –0.20, p = 0.043) was found.

Conclusions
Actions should be taken to improve knowledge of positive health behaviour among students. As they enter their new social environment, such as a university, young adults should be offered the opportunity of changing their lifestyle, the acquired health behaviour patterns serving them in the future.