Title: Pathways between authentic happiness and health promoting lifestyle profiles of the university students in Tabriz, Iran

Authors: Zahra Alizadeh; Abdolrasul Safaian; Hassan Mahmoodi; Abdolreza Shaghaghi

Addresses: Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar Neishabouri Ave., Tabriz, P.C.: 5166614711, Iran ' Department of Epidemiology and Vital Statistic, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar Neishabouri Ave, Tabriz, P.C.: 5166614711, Iran ' Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar Neishabouri Ave, Tabriz, , P.C.: 5166614711, Iran ' Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Attar Neishabouri Ave, Tabriz, , P.C.: 5166614711, Iran

Abstract: Level of happiness is an exigent issue for university students' that could affect other aspects of their wellbeing, educational achievements and lifespan development. To bridge evidence gap, level of happiness and its association with health-promoting behaviours was envisaged in a random sample of 393 Iranian students at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TBZMED), North West of Iran. The data collection tools were validated Persian versions of the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) and the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). Based on the findings, happiness level could positively predict the students' total and subscales HPLP-II scores. Male students represented a better physical activity scores (53.05 ± 1.35) than females (49.13 ± 1.03), (P = 0.019) but their nutritional habit score (58.7 ± 1.04) was lower than their female (62.19 ± 0.91) counterparts (P = 0.012). The observed authentic association between happiness and health promoting lifestyle highlights imperative need for interventions to boost the Iranian students' emotional well-being.

Keywords: happiness; health promoting behaviour; students; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2018.096433

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2018 Vol.4 No.4, pp.360 - 368

Received: 28 Oct 2017
Accepted: 05 Jun 2018
Published online: 28 Nov 2018 *

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