Happiness and Health Behaviours in Chilean College Students
Author Information
Author(s): José A Piqueras, Walter Kuhne, Pablo Vera-Villarroel, Annemieke van Straten, Pim Cuijpers
Primary Institution: Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Hypothesis
Happiness would be positively associated with lower scores on perceived stress and with healthy lifestyles and prudent health behaviours.
Conclusion
The study found that happiness is related to healthy behaviours and lower perceived stress among college students.
Supporting Evidence
- 30.80% of respondents rated themselves as very happy.
- Higher happiness scores were associated with daily physical activity and healthy eating.
- Females reported higher happiness levels than males.
- Younger students reported higher happiness than older students.
Takeaway
Happy college students tend to eat better, exercise more, and feel less stressed.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-report questionnaires to assess happiness, perceived stress, and health behaviours among university students.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study was cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences, and the sample may not represent all Chilean young adults.
Participant Demographics
3461 students aged 17-24, with 53.90% male and 46.10% female.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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