The Relationship between Mental Health and Health Promoting Lifestyle among Nursing Students of University of Medical Sciences in East Azerbaijan Province in 2017

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Objective: Promoting mental health and a healthy lifestyle among nursing students is of great importance because of their remarkable role in the health of society. Regarding the limited number of works conducted on this issue, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between mental health and health-promoting lifestyle among nursing students at medical science universities of East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 624 bachelors of science nursing students were selected from all semesters via the census method in 2017-2018. Data were collected using two standard questionnaires of Goldberg and Hillier’s General Health Questionnaire (1979) and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLPII), as well as a demographic questionnaire designed for nursing students. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation) in SPSS 13. Results: Mean mental health score of the students was 79.43 ± 18.59. The highest mean belonged to the dimension of depressive symptoms (22.13 ± 6.9) while the lowest was for the dimension of social function (18.65 ± 5.93). Mean health-promoting lifestyle score was 126.71 ± 21.40, with the highest belonging to the dimension of interpersonal relations (24.18 ± 4.77) and the lowest to physical activities (17.16 ± 4.58). A significant correlation (r = 0.57, p<0.001) existed between mean scores of mental health and health-promoting lifestyle. The results showed that with an increase in mental health, the self-promoting lifestyle also increased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, there is a direct and significant correlation between the students’ mental health and health-promoting lifestyle. Therefore, further studies must examine health-promoting behaviors in this group of students, and universities must take necessary measures and make plans by activating consultation centers and attaching more importance to lifestyle and its promotion.