Original researchPhysical activity and dietary habits of first year nursing students: An Australian dual-method study
Introduction
While there is limited evidence regarding the prevalence of weight change among first year university students in Australia, the US college average is 0.6 kg/year (Deforche et al., 2015). Weight gain is commonly attributed to sleep pattern disruptions, unhealthy dietary patterns, alcohol consumption, stress, and reduced physical activity (Brown, 2008, Vadeboncoeur et al., 2015). Currently, the proportions of overweight and obesity are rapidly increasing among adult Australians (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017). Investigating adults and their health behaviours in various environments is therefore vital to support the development of purposeful healthy lifestyle interventions, minimise weight gain and improve weight maintenance among high-risk groups. In particular, undergraduate nursing students are at increased risk due to compounding stressors associated with a practice-based discipline, rotating shifts, disrupted sleep patterns, and dysregulated caloric intake and energy expenditure to maintain physical health (Bryer et al., 2013, Porteous and Machin, 2018). Addressing negative lifestyle behaviours of nursing students may foster positive health-related choices, preventing rapid weight change, safeguarding their health upon entering the workforce, and supporting career longevity.
Section snippets
Study aim
To explore health behaviours and any potential weight change of nursing students during their first year of university education. The related research questions were: 1) What is the weight change among undergraduate nursing students? 2) What physical activity and dietary habits do students develop or engage in, as they progress through their first year of study? 3) How do these health behaviours affect students’ perceptions of their overall health? and 4) What is the impact of transition on
Design
A dual-method longitudinal study consisted of: anthropometric and health questionnaire data at two time points, and semi-structured interviews for a sub-group of participants that completed quantitative data collection. The study sought to use quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a deepened understanding of the undergraduate students’ challenges and behaviours. The Social-Ecological Model informed the study design and analysis, exploring how individual, interpersonal, community and
Participant demographics
Of 752 students entering the Bachelor of Nursing program at the study site, 145 completed the baseline survey (19% response). Participants were mostly female (81%), aged 18–21 years (86%), spoke a language other than English at home (57%), overseas-born (54%), and lived at home (59%). Despite initiatives to optimise retention, significant study attrition was noted at seven months, where 35 participants (24%) completed data collection. Those who returned were mostly Australian born (n = 20,
Discussion
The key study findings were: there was a median weight gain of 1.9 kg over seven months; engagement in physical activity and nutrition-conscious consumption were intermittently effected during high-stress periods; insufficient available time was a barrier to achieving a healthy lifestyle while maintaining academic requirements; overall self-reported physical and dietary fluctuated over the first year; and transition to university was a significant period of adjustment. These findings are
Conclusions
These findings contribute to the evidence base on undergraduate weight gain and health behaviours. Importantly, this study situates first year university nursing students as a cohort requiring additional support for their overall health. Findings highlighted the impact university had on physical activity and dietary behaviours, and provided insight into the challenges, experiences and requirements of first year nursing students in managing course workload and a healthy lifestyle. Individual
Ethical statement
This study received ethical approval from the University of Technology, Sydney, Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) before proceeding (Reference: 2014000855).
Conflict of interest
The authors confirm that no conflict of interest, indirectly or directly, exists in the production and submission of this research.
There has been no financial or other interest to declare.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
The paper properly credits the meaningful contributions of co-authors and co-researchers.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the contribution of Professor Elizabeth Denney-Wilson for her assistance in the initial stages of this research.
References (31)
- et al.
A cross-sectional analysis of patterns of obesity in a cohort of working nurses and midwives in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
International Journal of Nursing
(2012) - et al.
Perceived stress and freshman weight change: The moderating role of baseline body mass index
Physiology & Behaviour
(2015) - et al.
Occupational factors associated with obesity and leisure-time physical activity among nurses: A cross sectional study
International Journal of Nursing Studies
(2016) - et al.
Contacting participants for follow-up: How much effort is required to retain participants in longitudinal studies?
Evaluation and Program Planning
(2005) - et al.
The lived experience of first year undergraduate student nurses: A hermeneutic phenomenological study
Nurse Education Today
(2018) - et al.
SPSS statistics version 22: A practical guide
(2014) 2019. 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18
(2019)A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia
(2017)- et al.
Dietary habits and health among university students living at or away from home in southern Italy
Journal of Food & Nutrition Research
(2013) The effects of college on weight: Examining the “freshman 15” myth and other effects of college over the life cycle
Demography
(2017)
The information trail of the ‘Freshman 15’—a systematic review of a health myth within the research and popular literature
Health Information & Libraries Journal.
Health-promotion behaviors of undergraduate nursing students: A survey analysis
Nursing Education Perspectives
Insights into university freshman weight issues and how they make decisions about eating
Journal of Consumer Affairs
Changes in weight, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary intake during the transition to higher education: A prospective study
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Cited by (7)
Health literacy dimensions as predictors of self-care agency among nursing students
2022, Journal of Professional NursingCitation Excerpt :However, there is evidence that nursing students' self-care agency is moderate (Ister, 2020). Besides, nursing students' engagement in self-care varies due to lack of knowledge regarding holistic care practices as well as changes in academic responsibilities and progression through the nursing curriculum (Ashcraft & Gatto, 2015; Hensel & Laux, 2014; Hughes et al., 2021; Smith et al., 2020). Health literacy refers to the individual's capabilities to obtain, understand, appraise, and utilize health information to make appropriate, informed decisions regarding health and disease prevention (Nutbeam et al., 2018; Sørensen et al., 2012; World Health Organization [WHO], 2013).
Do Living Arrangements and Eating Habits Influence University Students’ Food Waste Perception in Italy and Poland?
2024, Sustainability (Switzerland)Gender differences in health-promoting behaviors and psychological well-being of Palestinian medical students based on the HPLP II
2022, Palestinian Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal