Keywords
social determinants of health
higher education
mental health
lifestyles
sleep deprivation
Portugal
How to Cite
Abstract
Contemporary higher education is characterized by a culture of academic excellence that may paradoxically compromise students’ physical and mental health. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between lifestyles, mental health, and modifiable risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases among Portuguese higher education students. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 104 students aged between 18 and 63 years, recruited between September 2023 and January 2024. A structured online questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic variables, academic performance, sleep patterns, physical activity, eating behaviors, and mental health through the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. The findings identified the so-called “Academic Success Paradox”, showing that students with higher academic achievement presented poorer health indicators. Specifically, academically high-achieving students reported shorter sleep duration, higher levels of chronic fatigue, increased anxiety and stress, and lower levels of physical activity. Negative correlations were found between academic performance and sleep duration, while positive correlations emerged between academic performance, anxiety, and stress. The study concludes that academic culture may normalize risk behaviors associated with non-communicable chronic diseases, highlighting the urgent need to integrate physical and mental health promotion into institutional policies and practices within Portuguese higher education.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Luisa Guerreiro Viana, João Carlos Castro, Sara Isabel Marques Almeida, Hugo Miguel Carvalho (Author)