Features of behavior, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, and psychological state and their relationships with the academic performance of junior medicine students

Abstract

Peculiarities of behavior and nutrition, living conditions, consumption of alcohol, smoking, and psychological state are factors that can influence students’ academic performance. 327 healthy 1-2-year students aged 18.8±0.1 years were interviewed about lifestyle, consumption of various types of foods and alcohol, intensity and duration of smoking, fasting experience, satisfaction with their degree of wealth and family relationships, sleep duration and sleep disorders, and the number of physical and psychological traumas. Anxiety, self-esteem, academic ability, and academic performance were determined. Students’ nighttime sleep duration was 7.1±0.1 hours; sleep disorders were observed in 40.1% of students. Vegetables were consumed daily by 31.4% students. 70.8% of males and 57.8% of females were satisfied with wealth. The females’ academic performance was higher. Alcohol consumption was higher among females from wealthy families, but lower than among malesAcademic performance was negatively related to the weekly dose of alcohol consumed. The academic ability level of abstainers was higher than that of alcohol users. Alcohol users showed an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and anxiety. Differences were found in factors contributing to alcohol use by young men and women. Academic performance was lower in individuals who fasted for more than one day.