Background: Emerging adulthood is a critical period for the adoption of health behaviours. This study aimed to identify distinct lifestyle profiles among university students using a person-oriented approach and to examine their associations with psychological wellbeing, stress, anxiety, and depression. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2,078 students (aged 18–39) from the University of Torino provided data on six lifestyle indicators: sedentary behaviour, diet, sleep, alcohol, sport, and smoking. Cluster analysis (Partitioning Around Medoids) was used to identify profiles. Differences in psychological outcomes (WEMWBS, PSS-10, HADS) were assessed using ANCOVA, adjusting for age and gender. Results: Four profiles were identified: Active–Healthier (29%), Sedentary–Sporty (17.6%), Sedentary–Non-sporty (25.7%), and Active–Riskier (27.7%). Sedentary behaviour showed the strongest differentiation across profiles (Cramér’s V = 0.789). After adjustment for age and gender, lifestyle profile membership was significantly associated with wellbeing, perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (all p < .001), although effect sizes were small (partial η² = 0.009–0.016). The Active–Healthier profile showed the most favourable psychological pattern, whereas differences among the remaining three profiles were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Health-related behaviours co-occur in multidimensional patterns among university students. Person-oriented profiling may help universities move beyond generic health promotion towards more targeted interventions that jointly address physical and mental health.
Emanuela Rabaglietti, Aurelia De Lorenzo, M. Micheletti Cremasco et al.· Journal for Person-Oriented...· 0 citations
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of work-related disability and absenteeism. Despite their high prevalence among office workers, including university employees, little research has examined the association between MSDs, physical activity (PA), and stress in this population. This study investigates the prevalence of MSDs and their associations with PA levels and perceived stress among university employees. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among employees of the University of Turin and the Politecnico di Torino. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, MSDs (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), PA (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). Negative binomial regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among 446 participants, 85.2% reported at least one MSD in the past year, most commonly affecting the neck (57.9%), lower back (47.8%), and shoulders (39.7%). No associations were found between PA and MSDs, though a trend was observed for hip/thigh disorders in participants engaging in vigorous PA (PR = 1.79, 95%CI 0.84–3.79). There was an indication of a higher occurrence of MSDs with prolonged sedentary behavior (≥ 10 h/day), though statistical significance was not reached. In contrast, perceived stress was associated with upper back disorders (moderate stress: PR = 2.34, 95%CI 1.17–4.69; high stress: PR = 3.06, 95%CI 1.27–7.34). University employees have a high prevalence of MSDs, with stress as a significant risk factor. Further research is needed to clarify these associations and guide workplace interventions.
Martina Ballesio, Beatrice Occhetto, M. Trucco et al.· Sport Sciences for Health· 0 citations
