{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T21:50:58Z","timestamp":1757541058346,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]],"date-time":"2024-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1721692800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>The transition from school to university is often accompanied by a change in students\u2019 lifestyles. So far little is known whether convenience behavior is an essential factor affecting students\u2019 health and social interaction. In a heterogeneous population regard to sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics the Convenience Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ) showed a better relationship between convenience-related behavior with overweight and obesity than established questionnaires. Here we assessed convenience behavior in a large well characterized cohort of university students and its association with health-related (mainly sedentary behavior and physical activity), study-related and sociodemographic factors with the Convenience Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A total of 4,351 students participated in an online survey, of which 3,983 (23.6\u2009\u00b1\u20095.3\u2009years old, 71.3% females) answered the questions concerning convenience behavior. A low value in the CBQ indicates more convenience behavior [Convenience Behavior Index (CBI) range: 3\u201315]. Differences with regard to sociodemographic (age, gender, body mass index), study-related (semester, degree, field of study) and health-related (physical activity, sedentary behavior) variables were examined with Mann\u2013Whitney-U test or Kruskal\u2013Wallis test and post-hoc tests (Bonferroni).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The CBI of men and women differed significantly (<jats:italic>z<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009\u22126.847,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001,<jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.11). First-year students and students beyond their first year showed significant differences (<jats:italic>z<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009\u22122.355,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009\u2264\u20090.05,<jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.04). Differences were also found in the field of study (Chi2 (6)\u2009=\u2009147.830,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001) and the targeted degree (Chi2 (7)\u2009=\u200979.985,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001). Furthermore, differences were found in the body mass index (Chi2 (5)\u2009=\u200970.678,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), physical activity (Chi2 (2)\u2009=\u2009279.040,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001) and sedentary behavior (<jats:italic>z<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009\u22124.660,<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001,<jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.07).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The results showed risk groups of convenience behavior among students [men, first-year, students enrolled in \u201cScience, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM),\u201d bachelor]. Our results confirm for the first time in a very homogeneous population a gender difference and an association between CBI and health-related factors. Further studies are needed to analyze the health behavior of students in more detail, especially their convenience behavior.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404598","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]],"date-time":"2024-07-23T05:09:41Z","timestamp":1721711381000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Convenience behavior in German university students is associated with sociodemographic, study- and health-related factors"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Lisa","family":"Schwab","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jennifer L.","family":"Reichel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Antonia M.","family":"Werner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Markus","family":"Sch\u00e4fer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sebastian","family":"Heller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dennis","family":"Edelmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Manfred E.","family":"Beutel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Stephan","family":"Letzel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Pavel","family":"Dietz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Perikles","family":"Simon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kristin","family":"Kalo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]]},"reference":[{"year":"2017","key":"ref1"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1143","DOI":"10.1002\/cphy.c110025","article-title":"Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases","volume":"2","author":"Booth","year":"2012","journal-title":"Compr Physiol"},{"volume-title":"Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014","year":"2014","author":"Mendis","key":"ref3"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"801","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.051351","article-title":"Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence","volume":"174","author":"Warburton","year":"2006","journal-title":"CMAJ"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2011.05.004","article-title":"Sedentary behaviors and subsequent health outcomes in adults a systematic review of longitudinal studies, 1996-2011","volume":"41","author":"Thorp","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1111\/ppc.12296","article-title":"Effect of university students' sedentary behavior on stress, anxiety, and depression","volume":"55","author":"Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"Perspect Psychiatr Care"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-016-0432-4","article-title":"The associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health among adolescents: a systematic review","volume":"13","author":"Hoare","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1311","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(16)30383-X","article-title":"The economic burden of physical inactivity: a global analysis of major non-communicable diseases","volume":"388","author":"Ding","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e27","DOI":"10.4081\/hpr.2013.e27","article-title":"Quality of life in chronic disease patients","volume":"1","author":"Megari","year":"2013","journal-title":"Health Psychol Res"},{"volume-title":"Health behavior: theory, research, and practice","year":"2015","author":"Glanz","key":"ref10"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-015-1553-4","article-title":"Determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions","volume":"15","author":"Deliens","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5539\/gjhs.v4n4p1","article-title":"Predictors of self-rated health and lifestyle behaviours in Swedish university students","volume":"4","author":"Schmidt","year":"2012","journal-title":"Global J Health Sci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"178","DOI":"10.1007\/s12529-014-9424-4","article-title":"Can changes in psychosocial factors and residency explain the decrease in physical activity during the transition from high school to college or university?","volume":"22","author":"van Dyck","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Behav Med"},{"volume-title":"WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour","year":"2020","key":"ref14"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1009","DOI":"10.70252\/XLOM8139","article-title":"College student work habits are related to physical activity and fitness","volume":"10","author":"Calestine","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Exerc Sci"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1177\/0017896910363145","article-title":"An ecological momentary assessment of the physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of university students","volume":"69","author":"Rouse","year":"2010","journal-title":"Health Educ J"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"548","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-13-548","article-title":"Prevalence of health-risk behaviours among Canadian post-secondary students: descriptive results from the National College Health Assessment","volume":"13","author":"Kwan","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1177\/1090198112467801","article-title":"Changes in eating and physical activity behaviors across seven semesters of college: living on or off campus matters","volume":"40","author":"Small","year":"2013","journal-title":"Health Educ Behav"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3272","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17093272","article-title":"Physical activity habits and determinants, sedentary behaviour and lifestyle in university students","volume":"17","author":"Carballo-Fazanes","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18078","DOI":"10.1051\/e3sconf\/202021018078","article-title":"Procrastination and laziness rates among students with different academic performance as an organizational problem","volume":"210","author":"Dautov","year":"2020","journal-title":"E3S Web Conf"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2094","DOI":"10.31004\/joe.v6i1.3202","article-title":"The analysis of relationship between achievement motivation, self-efficacy and students social laziness","volume":"6","author":"Purwantini","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Educ"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1002\/nur.21845","article-title":"Sedentary behavior and physical activity of young adult university students","volume":"41","author":"Peterson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Res Nurs Health"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1007\/s11121-020-01093-8","article-title":"How sedentary are university students? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"21","author":"Castro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prev Sci"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-015-0173-9","article-title":"Changes in weight, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and dietary intake during the transition to higher education: a prospective study","volume":"12","author":"Deforche","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1001\/archgenpsychiatry.2010.2","article-title":"Overweight, obesity, and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies","volume":"67","author":"Luppino","year":"2010","journal-title":"Arch Gen Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2737","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291717001039","article-title":"Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization world mental health surveys - CORRIGENDUM","volume":"47","author":"Auerbach","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychol Med"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2012.11.015","article-title":"A systematic review of studies of depression prevalence in university students","volume":"47","author":"Ibrahim","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Psychiatr Res"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2019.00020","article-title":"Convenience behavior and being overweight in adults: development and validation of the convenience behavior questionnaire","volume":"7","author":"Dreher","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1136\/jech-2017-210363","article-title":"Association between changes in lifestyle and all-cause mortality: the health and lifestyle survey","volume":"72","author":"White","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Epidemiol Community Health"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1007\/s40596-014-0205-9","article-title":"College students: mental health problems and treatment considerations","volume":"39","author":"Pedrelli","year":"2015","journal-title":"Acad Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jneb.2006.08.021","article-title":"Food insecurity and gender are risk factors for obesity","volume":"39","author":"Martin","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Nutr Educ Behav"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.2307\/2137263","article-title":"Age and the gender gap in depression","volume":"37","author":"Mirowsky","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Health Soc Behav"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychres.2013.09.027","article-title":"Gender differences in depression and anxiety: the role of age","volume":"210","author":"Faravelli","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychiatry Res"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2016.10.050","article-title":"Physical activity and sedentary behavior in people with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"210","author":"Schuch","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.31887\/DCNS.2006.8.2\/hpkapfhammer","article-title":"Somatic symptoms in depression","volume":"8","author":"Kapfhammer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Dialogues Clin Neurosci"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"616437","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2021.616437","article-title":"Challenge accepted! A critical reflection on how to perform a health survey among university students-an example of the healthy campus Mainz project","volume":"9","author":"Reichel","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"year":"2010","key":"ref37"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1381","DOI":"10.1249\/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB","article-title":"International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity","volume":"35","author":"Craig","year":"2003","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"year":"2005","author":"Patterson","key":"ref39"},{"volume-title":"Global recommendations on physical activity for health","year":"2010","key":"ref40"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1302","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(16)30370-1","article-title":"Does physical activity attenuate, or even eliminate, the detrimental association of sitting time with mortality? A harmonised meta-analysis of data from more than 1 million men and women","volume":"388","author":"Ekelund","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1080\/19325037.2006.10598924","article-title":"Validity and reliability of the international physical activity questionnaire in college students","volume":"37","author":"Dinger","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Health Educ"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"937","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-04891-y","article-title":"Potential risk groups and psychological, psychosocial, and health behavioral predictors of pharmacological neuroenhancement among university students in Germany","volume":"12","author":"Heller","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-2909.112.1.155","article-title":"A power primer","volume":"112","author":"Cohen","year":"1992","journal-title":"Psychol Bull"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1002\/j.2161-0045.2010.tb00060.x","article-title":"Understanding women\u2019s underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: the role of social coping","volume":"59","author":"Morganson","year":"2010","journal-title":"Career Dev Q"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1089","DOI":"10.5209\/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n3.39399","article-title":"Coping strategies: gender differences and development throughout life span","volume":"15","author":"Mel\u00e9ndez","year":"2012","journal-title":"Span J Psychol"},{"year":"2019","author":"Kim","key":"ref47"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1009","DOI":"10.1080\/21642850.2014.963586","article-title":"Students' benefits and barriers to mental health help-seeking","volume":"2","author":"Vidourek","year":"2014","journal-title":"Health Psychol Behav Med"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5369","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17155369","article-title":"Changes in eating habits among displaced and non-displaced university students","volume":"17","author":"B\u00e1rbara","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"821703","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.821703","article-title":"Physical activity and sedentary behavior in university students-the role of gender, age, field of study, targeted degree, and study semester","volume":"10","author":"Edelmann","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1080\/07448480309595728","article-title":"Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physical activity in college students","volume":"52","author":"Huang","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Am Coll Heal"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.42.1.24","article-title":"Body weight and the prevalence of chronic diseases","volume":"42","author":"Negri","year":"1988","journal-title":"J Epidemiol Community Health"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2458-14-143","article-title":"Chronic disease burden associated with overweight and obesity in Ireland: the effects of a small BMI reduction at population level","volume":"14","author":"Kearns","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1024996","DOI":"10.3389\/fspor.2022.1024996","article-title":"Nudging digital physical activity breaks for home studying of university students-a randomized controlled trial during the COVID-19 pandemic with daily activity measures","volume":"4","author":"Teuber","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Sports Act Living"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1002\/hpm.2881","article-title":"Evaluating Mediterranean diet adherence in university student populations: does this dietary pattern affect students\u2019 academic performance and mental health?","volume":"35","author":"Antonopoulou","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Health Plann Manag"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"849","DOI":"10.1108\/JARHE-03-2020-0065","article-title":"The influence of psychological, motivational, and behavioral factors on university students\u2019 achievements: the mediating effect of academic adjustment","volume":"13","author":"Raza","year":"2021","journal-title":"JARHE"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.18848\/2156-8960\/CGP\/v11i01\/1-22","article-title":"Healthy settings: barriers and facilitators to a healthy campus community","volume":"11","author":"Hansen-Ketchum","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Health Wellness Soc"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104058","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2021.104058","article-title":"Strategies to improve response rates to web surveys: a literature review","volume":"123","author":"Sammut","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Nurs Stud"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"712","DOI":"10.1080\/10668920802000423","article-title":"Using web surveys to reach community college students: an analysis of response rates and response Bias","volume":"32","author":"Sax","year":"2008","journal-title":"Community Coll J Res Pract"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-789X.2007.00347.x","article-title":"A comparison of direct vs. self-report measures for assessing height, weight and body mass index: a systematic review","volume":"8","author":"Gorber","year":"2007","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2022\/1277866","article-title":"Academic procrastination behavior among public university students","volume":"2022","author":"Fentaw","year":"2022","journal-title":"Educ Res Int"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404598\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,24]],"date-time":"2024-11-24T16:20:52Z","timestamp":1732465252000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404598\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]]},"references-count":61,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404598"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404598","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2296-2565"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,23]]},"article-number":"1404598"}}