Factors of Western Cultural Characteristics Affecting University Students’ Lifestyle in China

Background and Aims: In the context of cultural exchange, the clash between Chinese and Western cultures is subtly transforming the lifestyle of Chinese university students. To guide them in establishing a healthy lifestyle and properly understanding the impact of Western culture, this study explores the relationship between their lifestyle and Western values (such as individualism, rationalism, materialism, and competition). Methodology: To achieve this, a questionnaire survey method was employed, targeting 544 university students from Huanggang Normal University in Hubei Province. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and other tools were used to measure lifestyle and related variables, and data were analyzed with SPSS. Results: The results show that the overall lifestyle of Chinese university students is at a moderate level. Individualism, rationalism, and attitudes toward Western culture have significant positive impacts on their lifestyle. In contrast, the effect of competition is negative, while the effect of materialism is not significant. Conclusion: Therefore, Western cultural values have a bidirectional influence on the lifestyle of Chinese university students, with rationalism and individualism being the primary positive factors, while competition may bring negative effects. It is recommended that universities guide students to adopt a dialectical view of Western culture to promote the formation of a healthy lifestyle.