A recent scientific study led by Soepri Tjahjono Moedji Widodo and a
research team from Universitas Respati Yogyakarta highlights significant
differences in healthy lifestyle behaviors between junior high school students
and university students. Conducted between May and November 2025, this study
plays a crucial role in understanding how healthy habits formed during early
youth affect the prevention of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. The
findings provide valuable guidance for educational institutions to design
health promotion programs tailored to specific developmental stages.
The transition from early adolescence to young adulthood brings unique
challenges. Junior high school students live within highly structured school
environments, whereas university students enjoy greater independence alongside
heavy academic workloads and an increased risk of sedentary behaviors.
Understanding how physical activity, emotional regulation, and personal
responsibility evolve across these age groups is vital for preventing long-term
health decline.
This comparative quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional design
involving 293 respondents in Jakarta, comprising 126 public junior high school
students and 167 university students. Participants were selected using
stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire
adapted from the standardized Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II)
using a 4-point Likert scale. The survey evaluated three core dimensions:
Physical Activity, Stress Management, and Health Responsibility. The collected
data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests
with a significance threshold of $p < 0.05$.
Overall, university students achieved a higher average healthy lifestyle
score ($3.12 \pm 0.38$) than junior high school students ($2.98 \pm 0.41$).
However, breaking down the results into individual dimensions revealed stark
contrasts:
- Physical
Activity: Junior high
school students recorded significantly higher physical activity scores
than university students. Higher participation among younger students was
driven by mandatory physical education and structured school sports. In
contrast, university students experienced a marked drop in physical
activity due to heavy academic demands and long sitting hours.
- Stress
Management: University
students demonstrated superior stress management abilities compared to
junior high school students. Emotional maturity and greater life
experience enable college students to handle academic and social pressures
more effectively, whereas younger adolescents still rely on guidance from
teachers and parents.
- Health
Responsibility:
University students showed significantly greater initiative in managing
their personal health. Independence drives young adults to actively seek
health information and make informed preventive choices, while junior high
school students remain largely dependent on parental supervision and
school rules.
These findings carry strategic implications for health policies in
educational settings. Secondary schools are encouraged to implement programs
that build stress management skills and foster individual health responsibility
without diminishing current physical activity levels. Conversely, universities
need to offer active initiatives and facilities that motivate students to
maintain regular physical movement amidst demanding academic schedules.
The researchers emphasize that improvement in one health behavior does
not automatically trigger progress in another. Therefore, health promotion
strategies must be customized according to the developmental characteristics of
each student population.
Research Team Profile
This study was authored by an academic team from Universitas Respati
Yogyakarta led by Soepri Tjahjono Moedji Widodo, S.Kp., M.Kes. (an
expert in nursing science and public health promotion), along with team members
Inayah, Yayu Sintani, Yohana Engeli Destika Rangkung, and Dinda
Rambu Nabila from the health and nursing division at Universitas Respati
Yogyakarta.
Official Study Reference
- Article
Title: Healthy
Lifestyle Study: A Comparative Study of Physical Activity, Stress
Management, and Health Responsibility among Junior High School Students
and University Students
- Journal: International Journal of Advanced
Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS), Vol. 4, No. 7, Year 2026,
Pages 849–856
- Publisher: TITECH Publisher
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i7.288
- https://aprmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijatss
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