Association Between Virtual Social Networks and Health-Promoting Lifestyles in Medical University Students

Background: Medical students make extensive use of virtual social networks, especially in the era of the coronavirus pandemic, so that their health-promoting behaviors may be adversely affected. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the use of virtual social networks and a health-promoting lifestyle among postgraduate medical students. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among post-graduate students studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۲۰. A total of ۲۴۰ students were included using quota sampling method. Data were collected via valid and reliable questionnaires consisting of socio-demographic information, health-promoting lifestyle Profile-II, and virtual social networks utilization. The spearman test was employed to evaluate the association between virtual social networks and lifestyle. Results: The mean age of participants was ۳۲.۲۱±۷.۴۵ and ۷۵.۴% were female. The mean score of lifestyle was ۱۳۸.۲۸±۲۱.۱۸, while the mean score of virtual social networks utilization was (۶۴.۵۵±۱۱.۴۰). There was a statistically significant correlation between utilization of virtual social networks and total score of lifestyle (r=-۰.۱۸۹, P=۰.۰۰۳), as well as physical activity (r=-۰.۲۳۲, P=۰.۰۰۱), nutrition (r=-۰.۱۷۹, P=۰.۰۰۵), and self-actualization (r=-۰.۱۵۴ , P=۰.۰۱۷) of health promoting lifestyle. Linear regression model showed that utilization of internet and social networks (B=-۰.۳۷, P=۰.۰۲), utilization in the time between ۱۲ pm and ۸ am (B=-۱۴.۳, P=۰.۰۱۱) were independently associated with Health Promoting Lifestyle score. Conclusion: This study showed that more than half of students had a healthy lifestyle (۵۵%). The average score of virtual social networks used by students was high. Utilization of internet and the time of utilization were independent predictors of Health Promoting Lifestyle score.