Predictors of Health-Promoting Lifestyle among Students with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background aim: The problem of dysmenorrhea has not yet been controlled despite the various managements available for it. Among those, a healthpromoting lifestyle is recognized as a key factor to prevent the progression of many diseases since health promotion are directly related to lifestylerelated behaviors. This study assessed predictors of healthpromoting lifestyle among university students with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted on 370 students with primary dysmenorrhea from October to February 2018. The subjects were selected from the students of the Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran, using a proportionate stratified sampling method. The instruments used to collect data consisted of a demographic questionnaire, Beck Depression InventoryII, General Selfefficacy Scale, and the HealthPromoting Lifestyle Profile II. The general linear model was used to estimate the impact of each independent variable on the dependent variables using SPSS software (version 21). Results: The mean scores of healthpromoting lifestyle, general selfefficacy, and depression were obtained as 141.16±18.41, 57.81±8.1, and 11.8±10.5, respectively. There was a significant relationship between healthpromoting lifestyle with selfefficacy and depression (p 0.001). Based on the general linear model, the relationship of the total score of a healthpromoting lifestyle was significant with the general selfefficacy, depression, and regular physical activity (p 0.05). Students with high selfefficacy, low depression, and regular physical activity achieved higher healthpromoting lifestyle scores. Conclusion: It is recommended thatschools’ health policymakers should consider physical activities and psychological factors through offering educational and cultural programs, as well as paying greater attention than before to these dimensions.