Social Factors College Students Face

Our attitudes, personality and behaviors are affected by what is called social factors. Better described as persons, places and/or things that affects our health. Listed below is a few social factors that college students’ face:
 0 Eating habits
 Stress
 Alcohol and smoking
 Financial burdens
 New and unfamiliar living conditions
 New friends and less family support

 In researching the social factors that college students face, and the health risks involved, I found that eating habits, lack of exercise and unhealthy ways to reduce stress were very important to notice and that there were simple and inexpensive ways that students can improve their health habits. Each bullet point listed above can be turned to a positive factor if turned around just a bit. Poor diet habits are the most influential factor leading to weight gain. These poor habits also affect fatigue, moodiness and clear thinking. At many colleges, late night eating is sometimes the only source of entertainment, especially in a small community such as Klamath Falls. College life also tends do be time consuming and students find it much easier to grab a quick snack from the vending machine rather than wake early and eat a balanced breakfast. There many late nights preparing for tests, which increase the likely hood of energy drinks and fast food. Alcohol, which is high in calories can also attribute to weight gain and is merely a temporary fix to forgetting about school for a while. When a student is not eating right, partying with friends and stressed out from homework and tests, they find a decreased desire to exercise properly which if turned around would probably be the better way to relieve the stress that many students are facing. Family support is decreased in many situations and new friends and on campus residence life is another new factor that a college student could be faced with. This can be somewhat anticipated and exciting but it also brings along additional stress and habits that are sometimes negative when it comes to health. For instance if there are many sharing an apartment from the college, the risk is increased for mononucleosis, meningitis and the flu. The good news is that many colleges are implementing a healthier cafeteria menu along with resources on campus that are available to students. Some of these resources are health center access, school websites with positive health tips and incentives along with financial and well-being counseling. A student writing for Longwood University writes “With motivation and the resources to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly, students are more likely to remain healthy on a college campus. These resources are necessary because college is usually the first time that students are living on their own for an extended period of time and are therefore developing habits that could possibly carry over into their years after college, and maybe the rest of their life. Thus, it is important that they are able to develop daily motivation to eat healthy and exercise regularly” (livestrong.com) Below is a video created by college students that wanted to share some ideas to live a healthier lifestyle on campus.

 Attending college is one of life’ s most memorable moments and can significantly affect the future you may have for employment as well as your socio economic status later in life. Most would say that attending college is a positive experience and that if a person is able to take this opportunity, it is almost always in their best interest. However, being a college student comes with health risks that would maybe be lessened if a student were to take advantage of college resources available to them to improve their health and begin lifelong healthier habits. 

 References;
 Problems college students face when they don't exercise. (2013, March 24). In livestrong.com. Retrieved  April 23, 2013, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/154524-problems-college-students-face-when-they-dont-exercise