Tabari Biomedical Student Research Journal

Background & Objectives: Health-promoting behaviors are one of the key elements in maintaining individuals’ health. Considering the importance of the health of students as young members of the society, the present study was designed to determine health-promoting behaviors and the related factors among students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 384 students, selected via stratified random sampling at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and Health Promoting Lifestyle Questionnaire-II (HPLP-II), which consisted of six subscales. For data analysis, t-test, Chi-square, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation test were performed, using SPSS version 16.0.  
Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.67±2.22 years. The mean total HPLP-II  score was 125.4±2, which was at a medium level. The highest scores were obtained in the subscales of spiritual growth and interpersonal relations (23.27±4.2 and 23.6±4.7, respectively). On the other hand, the lowest score was obtained in the subscale of physical activity (17.90±4.2). Based on the findings, health-promoting behaviors were significantly correlated with gender and marital status (P<0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between educational level and health-promoting behaviors (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings, given the low physical activity of students, health authorities are recommended to take effective measures.