This study examined the role of healthy lifestyle choices on college students, specifically looking at diet, exercise, stress, self-esteem, and whether they were athletes or international students. The researchers hypothesized that athletic involvement would correlate with healthier lifestyle choices, lower stress, and higher self-esteem. They surveyed 99 college students and found that athletes exercised more, had healthier diets, and higher body confidence than non-athletes. Athletic involvement also significantly lowered stress levels. The study provides a basis for further exploring lifestyle factors between athletes and non-athletes using larger sample sizes and more sports-specific variables.

1. The Role of Healthy Lifestyle
Choices on College Students
Amy Teresa and Matea Mamic
Statistics and Research Methods 3050
Advisor: Dr. Spinetta

2. Individual
choices
students make
regarding diet
and
how often they
exercise.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Affected by
stress, athletic
involvement,
and whether or
not they are an
international
student.

3. Stress
The degree to
which college
students
perceive their
lives as
stressful.
This includes
athletic
involvement
and adapting
to a new
environment.

4. Self-Esteem
Feeling of self-
worth that
includes positive
and negative
feelings towards
oneself.
This includes
athletic
involvement and
adapting to a
new
environment.

5. Previous Research
There is strong evidence that healthy living has benefits for
physical and psychological functioning.
(Allen, Vella & Laborde, 2015.)
Less – frequent exercise was associated with more negative health
symptoms and poorer functional health.
(Weatherill, Krill, Orazem & Taft, 2013.)
Superior nutrition knowledge…driven by the pressure to exhaust
opportunities to excel at highest sports levels.
(Spendlove et al. 2012)
Emotions are experienced physically as well as mentally.
(Houghton et al. 2012)

6. Why is it Important?
The majority of literature that we found did not focused on non
athletes/ non international students.
Healthy lifestyle choices are important for personal health and
well being.

7. Our Hypotheses
• Hypothesis:
Healthy lifestyle choices
Athletic involvement Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Non Athletic involvement Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Stress
Athletic involvement Stress
Non Athletic involvement Stress

8. Participants
99 Participants
• 31 online
• 70 in person
Gender (self-identified)
• Female 51%
• Males 44%
• Transgender 1%
• Non-binary 1%
• Other 2%

9. Our Methods
Short survey asking participants about:
• Healthy Lifestyle Choices Scale
• Rosenberg Self – Esteem Scale
• Cohens Perceived Stress Scale
• Qualitative component (which is important when talking about
healthy lifestyle choices of athletes)
How often do you exercise?
r I exercise 0-2 times per week r I exercise 3-4 times per week r I exercise 5 or more times
per week
At what level of intensity do you exercise?
r Light r Moderate r Heavy
What type of exercise do you usually do?
r Cross-training r Aerobic r Strength-training r Competitive Sports r Combination r Other
write in __________
How do you feel about your body?
r I feel confident with how my body looks r I feel somewhat confident with how my body
looks r I don’t feel confident with how my body looks

10. Results
# Of
Students
Often
Exercise
Healthy
Lifestyle Scale
RSEsum PSSsum
International/ Athlete 20 3 ± 0 30.35 ± 2.87 16.8 ± 1.99 17.6 ± 6.42
International/ not an
Athlete
9 1.11 ± .33 25 ± 4.18 14.56 ± 2.92 20.78 ± 4.90
Not International/ Athlete 25 2.88 ± .33 29.36 ± 2.72 15.6 ± 1.82 16.24 ± 5.46
Not International/ Not
Athlete
45 1.8 ± .63 25.87 ± 4.90 14.51 ± 1.53 19.53 ± 6.03
Table 1. Number of individuals sampled and their scores based on the dependent variables
exercise frequency, healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and stress.
RSEsum = Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale
PSSsum = Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale

11. Results
0
5
10
15
20
25
Athlete Not an Athlete
MeanStress±SEM
Students
*
Figure 1. Athletic involvement has a significant effect on stress
t (97) = -2.450, p < .016.
Large effect size, Cohen’s d = 3.465.

12. Results
Athletic involvement has a significant effect on body confidence
t (89.808) = -2.890, p < .005.
Large effect size, Cohen’s d = 4.087.
*
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Non Athl Athlete
BodyConfidenceMean
College Students
*

13. Qualitative Results
Student–Athletes at Seattle University reported the
following as the main factors for healthy lifestyle choices
Athletes reported factors on why they have healthy
eating habits:
• Better athletic performance: 22%
• Prevent injuries: 26%
• Improved sleep: 24%
• Nutritionist: 13%

14. Future Research
• These questions should be further investigated with larger sample
sizes of athletes and international students.
• Further explore factors that influence healthy lifestyle choices of
athletes and non–athletes.
• The impact of sports–specific nutrition was not adequately assessed.
• Wider representation of sports–specific factors needed, such as: team,
team sports, individual sports, etc.

15. Questions?
Thank You !!!