Actividad física y su relación con el consumo de alcohol, tabaco, y con variables asociadas a la salud mental en estudiantes universitarios: Un estudio transversal

Introduction: Academic responsibilities modifies severals behaviors in students that affect their health. Objective: Identify the levels of physical activity (PA), alcohol, smoking, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in university students. Additionally, explore associations between PA with the other variables. Methods: Cross-sectional and correlational study in 717 students that used a simple random sample. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, CAGE Questionnaire, Global Adult Tobacco Survey, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and SF-12 were applied. Results: 42.4% presented a high level of PA, 23.8% a moderate level, and 33.8% a low level, there were statistically significant differences by sex (p<0.05), with a moderate association (Cramér's v = 0.20). 30.6% showed AC problems and 13.1% alcohol dependence. 92.2% do not smoke, 7.0% smoke, and 0.8% did not respond. There was no correlation between PA and CA, and PA and smoking (p>0.05). 43.5% had mild anxiety, 31.5% had no anxiety, 13.8% had moderate anxiety, and 11.2% had severe anxiety. 15.7% presented moderately severe and severe depression (grouped), 34.7% mild and 35.7% without depression. There was a relationship between PA and depression (p<0.05; Cramér's v = 0.13). PA and HRQoL showed statistically significant associations (p<0.05) of weak magnitude (<0.30). Conclusions: The results suggest thinking about strategies to increase PA with emphasis on women. It is important to take action to treat alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence problems, as well as anxiety and depression given the proportions found. The mental component of HRQoL should be treated with attention since it showed a decrease of 7.5 points below the reference population average.