Assessment of Lifestyle Among Conflict-Exposed Households: Basis for Home Economics Program Intervention
Abstract
Armed conflict has shown significant concern for security and safety, which disrupted an individual's daily life and negatively impacted their overall health and well-being (Kibret, 2023). Understanding how this different lifestyle affects an individual can help identify the support needed for improving their health and wellness. However, research on the different lifestyle factors behind the conflict-exposed household is limited. The main objective of this quantitative study was to assess the lifestyle of a hundred individuals in the Philippines who are exposed to distressing events related to conflict. Data were collected using an adapted and structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The study examined lifestyle factors that affect health indicators in conflict-exposed individuals, revealing a complex pattern concerning sleep, physical activity, weight management, smoking habits, and food intake. The results indicated that a significant portion of the population maintains a sedentary lifestyle, possibly contributing to increased mortality rates. While a higher number of individuals have a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), attention is still required for those who need to manage their weight. The results also strongly correlated with the participants' demographic profiles and lifestyle factors. This implies that in order to improve the participants' general health and wellness, it is imperative that the health-related issues they are facing be addressed. To address these problems, an intervention program was also proposed and created utilizing the Home Economics framework. Administrators looking to enhance wellness may find this program a good starting point for promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: lifestyle, wellness, conflict, home economics education
References
Agaku, I. T., Onasanya, O. A., & Vardavas, C. I. (2023). Gender differences in the use of cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco products among adolescents. Journal of Men’s Health, 3(2), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmh3020017.
Alva, M. (2020). Co-occurrence of diabetes and depression in the U.S. PLoS ONE, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234718.
Amiri, S., Mahmood, N., Junaidi, S., & Khan, M. A. B. (2024). Lifestyle interventions improving health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 13, 193. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_1156_23.
Bagherzadeh, R., Gharibi, T., Safavi, B., Mohammadi, S. Z., Karami, F., & Keshavarz, S. (2021). Pregnancy; an opportunity to return to a healthy lifestyle: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04213-6.
Bamalli, H. S. (2013). Competencies and Strategies for the Teaching of 21st Century Learners in Vocational Home Economics Education. Journal of Educational and Social Research. https://doi.org/10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n9p105.
Bernal, Ó., Forero, A. M., Vargas, I., & Rodríguez, D. C. (2024). Impact of the armed conflict in Colombia: Consequences in the health system, response, and challenges. Revista de Salud Pública, 21(3), 321–327.
Bovet, P., & Paccaud, F. (2011). Cardiovascular Disease and the Changing Face of Global Public Health: A Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries. Public Health Reviews, 33(2), 397. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03391643.
Bullard, E., (2024). Purposive sampling. EBSCO Research Starters. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/purposive-sampling
Castle, E. M., Greenwood, S. A., & Müller, R.-U. (2023). The importance of lifestyle interventions in the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease. Kidney Dialysis, 3(2), 192–195. https://doi.org/10.3390/kidneydial3020017.
Chakma, J. K., & Gupta, S. (2017). Lifestyle practice and associated risk factors of noncommunicable diseases among the students of Delhi University. International Journal of Health & Allied Sciences, 6(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijhas.ijhas_34_16.
Chinwong, D., Mookmanee, N., Chongpornchai, J., & Chinwong, S. (2021). Gender differences in use of cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco products among adolescents in Thailand. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 19, 32. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/169753.
Kostanjevec, S., & Kozina, F. L. (2021). Home Economics Education as Needed in the 21st Century. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 11(4), 7. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1348.
Davis, J., Blunden, S., BoydPratt, J., Corkum, P., Gebert, K., Trenorden, K., & Rigney, G. (2022). Healthy sleep for healthy schools: A pilot study of a sleep education resource to improve adolescent sleep. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33, 379. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.594.
Dziedzic, M., Dziubak, M., Matuszyk, D., & Sibiga, E. (2019). Socio-demographic determinants of health-related lifestyle and self-assessment of health in women. Problemy Pielęgniarstwa, 27, 181. https://doi.org/10.5114/ppiel.2019.92541.
Fuglestad, P. T., Jeffery, R. W., & Sherwood, N. E. (2012). Lifestyle patterns associated with diet, physical activity, body mass index and sleep. Health Education Research, 27(2), 292–302. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4542001/.
Gradner, M., Grandner, M. A., Jackson, N., Gerstner, J. R., & Knutson, K. L. (2018). Sleep symptoms associated with intake of specific dietary nutrients. Journal of Sleep Research, 27(1), e12480. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6220393/.
Hale, L., Troxel, W., & Buysse, D. J. (2020). Sleep health: An opportunity for public health to address health equity. Public Health Reports, 135(1), 1–3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7700832/.
Hanna, F., Yang, H., Montero, A., Akter, S., & Rahman, M. M. (2023). Lifestyle and mental health among conflict-affected populations: A scoping review. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, Article 1265814. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265814.
Health Interview Survey. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(10), 1181–1191. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu185.
House, B. T., Shearrer, G. E., Miller, S. J., & Belury, M. A. (2012). Meal frequency and timing are associated with changes in body composition in college-age males. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9, Article 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-79.
Kamakhya, P. K., Saikia, H., & Deka, S. (2023). Physical activity and sedentary behavior among conflict-affected individuals: A public health perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 1265814. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265814.
Khaw, W.-F., Nasaruddin, N. H., Alias, N., Chan, Y. M., Tan, L., Man, C. S., Ganapathy, S. S., Yusoff, M. F. M., & Yong, H. Y. (2022). Socio-demographic factors and healthy lifestyle behaviours among Malaysian adults: National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20511-1.
Kibret, G. D. (2023). Maternal and newborn health services accessibility, utilisation and neonatal mortality in Ethiopia. Library.
Kiwan, M. C. (2021). Social determinants of maternal and neonatal birth outcomes among Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Library.
Lee, M., Park, S., & Lee, K. (2020). Relationship between Morbidity and Health Behavior in Chronic Diseases. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(1), 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9010121.
Makarem, N., St-Onge, M.-P., & Aggarwal, B. (2022). The impact of poor sleep on cardiovascular disease risk: A review of the epidemiologic and clinical evidence. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 73, 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2022.05.002.
McPhee, J. S., French, D., Jackson, D., Nazroo, J., Pendleton, N., & Degens, H. (2016). Physical activity in older age: perspectives for healthy ageing and frailty [Review of Physical activity in older age: perspectives for healthy ageing and frailty]. Biogerontology, 17(3), 567. Springer Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-016-9641-0.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). How much sleep is enough? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/how-much-sleep.
Ndubuisi, N. E. (2021). Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention In Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Overview of Health in All Policies (HiAP) [Review of Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention In Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Overview of Health in All Policies (HiAP)]. INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing, 58. SAGE Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1177/0046958020927885.
Nuttall, F. Q. (2015). Obesity, BMI, and health: A critical review. Nutrition Today, 50(3), 117–128. https://doi.org/10.1097/NT.0000000000000092.
Park, J. H., Moon, J. H., Kim, H. J., Kong, M. H., & Oh, Y. H. (2020). Sedentary lifestyle: Overview of updated evidence of potential health risks. Korean Journal of Family Medicine, 41(6), 365–373. https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.20.0165.
Pengpid, S., & Peltzer, K. (2025). Association between meal frequency and diet quality among adults in Southeast Asia. Nutrition Journal, 24, Article 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01118-4.
Shirvani, Z., Shab-Bidar, S., & Djafarian, K. (2024). Meal frequency and its association with serum lipid profile and visceral fat in adults: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 25(3), e20487. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.20487.
Silveira, E. A., Mendonça, C. R., Delpino, F. M., Souza, G. V. E., Rosa, L. P. S., de Oliveira, C., & Noll, M. (2022). Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity and obesity in adults and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 52, 134–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.06.001.
Shochat, T. (2012). Impact of lifestyle and technology developments on sleep. Nature and Science of Sleep, 19. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s18891
Singh, R. K., Rahman, A., & Singh, M. (2025). Sedentary behavior and health risks in post-conflict zones: A systematic review. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44, Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00869-4.
Syamlal, G., Mazurek, J. M., Hendricks, S. A., & Jamal, A. (2015). Cigarette smoking trends among U.S. working adults by industry and occupation: Findings from the 2004–2012 National .
Tariq MNM, Stojanovska L, Dhaheri ASA, Cheikh Ismail L, Apostolopoulos V, Ali HI. Lifestyle Interventions for Prevention and Management of Diet-Linked Non-Communicable Diseases among Adults in Arab Countries. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;11(1):45. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11010045. PMID: 36611505; PMCID: PMC9819169.
Wang, C., Yan, S., Jiang, H., Guo, Y., Gan, Y., Lv, C., & Lu, Z. (2022). Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, social support quality and mental health in college students: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 1583. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14002-1.
Zeinali, F., Habibi, N., Samadi, M., Azam, K., & Djafarian, K. (2016). Relation between lifestyle and socio-demographic factors and body composition among the elderly. Global Journal of Health Science, 8(8), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n8p172.
Zsákai, A., Rátz-Sulyok, F. Z., Koronczai, B., Varró, P., Tóth, E., Szarvas, S., Tauber, T., Karkus, Z., & Molnár, K. (2023). Risk and protective factors for health behaviour in adolescence in Europe. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45800-1.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aisah Manan, Irish Achondo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).