A STUDY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, LIFESTYLE AND BEHAVIOUR OF COLLEGE YOUTHS IN AN URBAN AREA
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Keywords
CollegeStudents,Lifestyle Behaviour,Urban Youth Health,Sleep,Screen Time,Wellbeing.
Abstract
Background:College life often brings abrupt shifts in daily routines. Sleep becomes irregular, mealsare skipped, and long hours on digital devices are common. These habits shape both physical andemotional wellbeing, and many students begin experiencing symptoms that quietly build over time.
Objectives:To document the pattern of common health complaints among urban college youths andto explore how their lifestyle and behavioural choices relate to these issues.
Methods:A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 130 undergraduate students. Informationon sleep, diet, screen exposure, physical activity, and self-reported symptoms was collected using astructured questionnaire. BMI was recorded. Lifestyle categories were created for comparison, andassociations were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.
Results:Headaches, fatigue, musculoskeletal discomfort, and sleep problems were frequently noted.Students sleeping fewer hours or spending long periods on screens tended to report more symptoms.Irregular meals and low physical activity were also linked with higher complaint frequencies. Thepatterns suggested that several behaviours acted together rather than in isolation.
Conclusion:Urban college youths experience a blend of lifestyle-related concerns that appear toreinforce one another. Encouraging healthier routines, improving campus-based guidance, andoffering early support may help reduce the progression of these problems.
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Dr. Srinath M.P.
Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Sri Chamundeshwari Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute,Channapatna, Ramanagar, Karnataka, India.
Dr. Sridhar Prasad Y.P.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore,Karnataka, India.
Dr. Usha N.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Farookh Academy of Medical Education Hospital and Research Centre, Mysore,Karnataka, India.
