Selected lifestyle factors of female university students in the reflection of sports activities

Background
The transition from high school to college is an important milestone in the life of adolescents. In this stage of life, they are already aware of their responsibility for their health, which allows them to develop their health habits. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge about selected aspects of female university students’ lifestyle, including sports, sleep, stress, alcohol and smoking.

Material and methods
This cross-sectional research w as c arried out with 1 ,055 female university students in their first year of study at two universities in Slovakia as part of the VEGA grant project no. 1/0825/17 “Recommendations for physical activities in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and their implementation in the Eastern part of Slovakia” implemented at P.J. Šafárik University in Košice. Data was collected on lifestyle factors, including frequency and regularity of participating in sports during the preceding half year, by means of a questionnaire.

Results
Students of both universities reported low levels of engagement in sport activity in the preceding six months, in terms of frequency and regularity of its weekly performance. There appeared to be a statistically significant relationship between the frequency of sport activity and fatigue after waking. Other relationships were not found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions
The scope of educational work by university education experts should include appropriate ways of influencing the lifestyle of first-year university students towards maintaining their good health. This can be carried out within the context of health education during compulsory and optional physical education classes.