Health Risk Behaviors and Life Stressors of the Paramedical Students as Determinants of College Retention in One Asian Private Higher Education Institution

The transition from high to college can be a stressful time in emerging adulthood. High levels of stress have been linked to a variety of psychological ailments in the college-aged population. The study was conducted to produce a baseline investigation on the health risk behaviors and life stressors of the paramedical students of LPU which may affect the academic performance of the students and their stay at their respective programs. With the use of descriptive-purposive design, 295 regular paramedical students of Lyceum of the Philippines University were included as participants of the study. Results show that majority of paramedical students at LPU are female and of the right age, take Medical Laboratory Science program, and graduated from private high schools. The overall QPI of the paramedical students is 2.1274 with 100% retention rate in the Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing but not from the College of Allied Medical Professions for the entire year level. As to health risk behavior, only half of them eat their breakfast always and mostly have not slept for at least six hours daily. Many do not drink alcoholic beverages and do not smoke as well. More than half drink 5-6 glasses or more of water, exercise for at least 10-15 minutes primarily through walking, and have not sought healthcare at LPU for any physical and psychological problems or for medication. Academic stressors are the major sources of stress among the paramedical students. There is no correlation between life stressors and most health risk behaviors except for interpersonal stressors which were found to be correlated with drinking alcohol beverages and the amount of alcohol taken; and the intrapersonal and academic stressors which are correlated to cigarette smoking. The stressors experienced by the paramedical students vary as to their program and that all programs have different levels of stress. It is recommended that strategies and interventions be crafted to address the identified health risk behavior and to aid the students cope-up with their life stressors that may improve their academic performance.

Keywords – health risk behavior, life stressors, college retention