Transition to Higher Education: lifestyle changes, health condition and academic success of first-year students

Abstract

Lifetime normative transitions, which include signifi cant ecological structural changes, as transition to higher education, constitute a risk factor in the adoption and maintenance of healthy lifestyles. Health behaviours and attitudes (HBA) that integrate personal lifestyle are variables that infl uence students’ health condition and academic success. Objectives and sample: A sample of fi rstyear students (N = 546) from the University of Coimbra, from the academic year 2009/2010, was collected in order to study “students in transition” (1) perception of occurred and desirable changes in seven HBA sets of their lifestyle and its impact perceived in subjects overall health, adaptation process and academic performance; (2) actual health condition and academic success; and (3) the infl uence of some HBA on these variables. Main results: Although the prevalence of HBA has changed with transition, most of the students have changed/maintained a healthy lifestyle, except for alcohol consumption and physical/sports activity. These two HBA played an important and confl icting role in health condition, as well as in academic success. Conclusions: Most of the results are consistent with the literature and provided important information for planning a health and academic success promotion intervention project in this specifi c context.