Identification of Health Risk Factors Among Undergraduate University Stage 3: Development of a Holistic Health Assessment Tool

Abstract

Research reported on by Irons and Thompson, cited in Bensley (1981), indicates that the lifestyles of college and university students could contribute to future health problems. Their study pointed out that over 29% of the students admitted having irregular dietary habits; 40% indicated that they did not engage in any form of regular strenuous exercise; 18% admitted to exceeding the speed limit when driving; and 6% admitted to driving after alcohol consumption. The above findings were closely replicated in health assessment clinics and a Health Hazard Appraisal (HHA) of undergraduate students that we conducted at the University of Windsor (U of W). As reported in earlier articles (Gupta, McMahon, & Sandhu, 1985a, 1985b), our findings identified additional specific health risks in the U of W student population. One unexpected area of health risk was the high percentage of diabetics. Alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, and family histories of depression were other concerns revealed.