Do Lifestyle Habits and Self-regulation Predict Changes in Emotional Well-being Among University Students Across Seven European Countries?

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to test whether lifestyle habits (alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, marihuana use and healthy eating habits) and self-regulation skills predict changes in emotional well-being (EWB). Methods: A sample of university students from Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey and Czech Republic participated in an online survey at the baseline (n=3560) and the follow up 12 months later (response rate 29%; n=1044; 25.8% males). The administered measures included: AUDIT, items on smoking & marihuana use, the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire and the WHO-5 Well-being Index. Linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between the life style habits (T2), self-regulation (T2), and changes in EWB (T2-T1). Findings: Healthy eating habits and self-regulation were shown to be a strong positive predictor of an increase in EWB. Alcohol use, smoking and marihuana use were not found predict any changes in EWB . Discussion: This study confirmed a positive role of self-regulation skills and healthy food habits in relation to increases in EWB.