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University students are exposed to many stressors. We assessed the associations between two stressors (educational related and general overall), socio-demographic characteristics (five variables), health behaviours/lifestyle factors (six variables), as well as religiosity and quality of life as independent variables, with self-reported symptoms/health complaints as dependent variables (eight health complaints). A sample of 2100 undergraduate students from nine institutions (six universities, three colleges) located in seven cities in Libya completed a general health questionnaire. The most prevalent symptoms were headaches, depressive mood, difficulties to concentrate and sleep disorder/insomnia that have been reported by 50%-60% of the students. The majority of students (62%) reported having had three or more symptoms sometimes or very often in the last 12 months. There was a positive association between perceived stressors and health symptoms, which remained significant after adjustment for gender and many other relevant factors for headache (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15-2.02), depressive mood (OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.64-2.94) and sleep disorder/ insomnia (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.19-2.03). Other factors independently associated with most health symptoms were female gender and poor self-perceived health. Stress management programmes and a reduction of educational related stressors might help to prevent stress-related symptoms and health complaints in this student population.

Aims: This cross-sectional survey assessed and compared by gender the levels and correlates of achieving the international guidelines recommendations on five forms of physical activity (PA) (walking, moderate PA, vigorous PA, moderate or vigorous PA- MVPA, and muscle-strengthening PA). We examined the associations between achieving the international guidelines recommendations on five forms of PA and a variety of sociodemographic, health and academic performance variables., Methods: Data was collected across nine Libyan universities (2008-2009, representative sample of 1,300 undergraduates). A self-administered questionnaire assessed frequency and duration of PA/week for each form of PA. Cut-offs for recommended guidelines were set according to the American Heart Association., Results: About 43.7% of students achieved the guidelines for muscle strengthening PA, 20.7% for walking, 11.2% for vigorous PA, 28.5% for MVPA, and 4.8% for moderate PA (excluding walking). Binary logistic regression showed that except for walking, males were consistently associated with achieving the guidelines recommendations for all other forms of PA. Students with higher health awareness were more likely to achieve the guidelines for vigorous PA and muscle strengthening PA. Better academic performance was associated with higher levels of muscle strengthening PA. Students at institutions in the East of Libya were less likely to achieve the guidelines for walking, vigorous PA or muscle strengthening PA as compared to students from the North. Students from the West of Libya were also less likely to walk or to engage in moderate PA than their peers from the North., Conclusions: Overall, relatively low proportions of students achieved the recommended guidelines of PA. Female students were particularly at risk for low level of PA. Attention is required to national policies that promote active living, along with addressing the cultural, geographic and other barriers to engagement of young adult males and females in PA.