Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Mental health, academic motivation, and exercise participation remain critical issues for well-being of university students. This study aimed to explore lifestyle elements that influence mental health, academic motivation, and participation of three types of exercise among university stud...

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Main Authors: Takemune Fukuie, Koshiro Inoue, Akihiko Yamaguchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2024-09-01
Series:Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/123514592/Lifestyle_and_well_being_of_university_students_in_Japan_a_cross_sectional_study
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author Takemune Fukuie
Koshiro Inoue
Akihiko Yamaguchi
author_facet Takemune Fukuie
Koshiro Inoue
Akihiko Yamaguchi
author_sort Takemune Fukuie
collection DOAJ
description Mental health, academic motivation, and exercise participation remain critical issues for well-being of university students. This study aimed to explore lifestyle elements that influence mental health, academic motivation, and participation of three types of exercise among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and December 2022. A total of 240 first-year students (mean age: 18.70 ± 0.53 years; age range: 18–21; 166 female) participated in the study. Participants measured and recorded their lifestyle for a week using accelerometer and an Excel format. Measurements included daily step counts; dietary habits; sleep habits; exercise participation by type, such as aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), and flexibility exercise (FE); screen time; eye fatigue; club activities; part-time job time; depression; and academic motivation. Path analysis revealed that longer FE and higher subjective sleep quality predicted lower depression (β = −0.11, P < 0.05; β =−0.23, P < 0.001). Screen time commonly predicted depression (β = 0.11, P < 0.05) and academic motivation (β = −0.15, P < 0.05). Frequency of exercise less than 5 min commonly predicted total time of AE (β = 0.20, P < 0.01), RE (β = 0.23, P < 0.001), and FE (β = 0.21, P < 0.001). Decreasing screen time could be a common key factor for good mental health and academic motivation. Increasing short-term frequent exercise could be an implementable strategy for increasing participation in all three types of exercise.
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spelling doaj-art-ecc5c3487d3740d1bf166612fcb118af2025-08-20T03:47:49ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962024-09-011210.20935/MHealthWellB7327Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional studyTakemune Fukuie0Koshiro Inoue1Akihiko Yamaguchi2School of Nursing and Social Services, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan. Mental health, academic motivation, and exercise participation remain critical issues for well-being of university students. This study aimed to explore lifestyle elements that influence mental health, academic motivation, and participation of three types of exercise among university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and December 2022. A total of 240 first-year students (mean age: 18.70 ± 0.53 years; age range: 18–21; 166 female) participated in the study. Participants measured and recorded their lifestyle for a week using accelerometer and an Excel format. Measurements included daily step counts; dietary habits; sleep habits; exercise participation by type, such as aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), and flexibility exercise (FE); screen time; eye fatigue; club activities; part-time job time; depression; and academic motivation. Path analysis revealed that longer FE and higher subjective sleep quality predicted lower depression (β = −0.11, P < 0.05; β =−0.23, P < 0.001). Screen time commonly predicted depression (β = 0.11, P < 0.05) and academic motivation (β = −0.15, P < 0.05). Frequency of exercise less than 5 min commonly predicted total time of AE (β = 0.20, P < 0.01), RE (β = 0.23, P < 0.001), and FE (β = 0.21, P < 0.001). Decreasing screen time could be a common key factor for good mental health and academic motivation. Increasing short-term frequent exercise could be an implementable strategy for increasing participation in all three types of exercise.https://www.academia.edu/123514592/Lifestyle_and_well_being_of_university_students_in_Japan_a_cross_sectional_study
spellingShingle Takemune Fukuie
Koshiro Inoue
Akihiko Yamaguchi
Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
Academia Mental Health & Well-Being
title Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
title_full Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
title_short Lifestyle and well-being of university students in Japan: a cross-sectional study
title_sort lifestyle and well being of university students in japan a cross sectional study
url https://www.academia.edu/123514592/Lifestyle_and_well_being_of_university_students_in_Japan_a_cross_sectional_study
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