Fatemeh Rahimi - Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahnaz Pouresmaeil - Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Rafiei - Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zahra Hazrati- Meimaneh - South Tehran Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Farahnaz Sabeti - South Tehran Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Najmolmolook Amini - Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Somaieh Borjalilu - Department of Virtualization, Virtual School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Medical students make extensive use of virtual social networks, especially in the era of the coronavirus pandemic, so that their health-promoting behaviors may be adversely affected. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the use of virtual social networks and a health-promoting lifestyle among postgraduate medical students. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among post-graduate students studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in ۲۰۲۰. A total of ۲۴۰ students were included using quota sampling method. Data were collected via valid and reliable questionnaires consisting of socio-demographic information, health-promoting lifestyle Profile-II, and virtual social networks utilization. The spearman test was employed to evaluate the association between virtual social networks and lifestyle. Results: The mean age of participants was ۳۲.۲۱±۷.۴۵ and ۷۵.۴% were female. The mean score of lifestyle was ۱۳۸.۲۸±۲۱.۱۸, while the mean score of virtual social networks utilization was (۶۴.۵۵±۱۱.۴۰). There was a statistically significant correlation between utilization of virtual social networks and total score of lifestyle (r=-۰.۱۸۹, P=۰.۰۰۳), as well as physical activity (r=-۰.۲۳۲, P=۰.۰۰۱), nutrition (r=-۰.۱۷۹, P=۰.۰۰۵), and self-actualization (r=-۰.۱۵۴ , P=۰.۰۱۷) of health promoting lifestyle. Linear regression model showed that utilization of internet and social networks (B=-۰.۳۷, P=۰.۰۲), utilization in the time between ۱۲ pm and ۸ am (B=-۱۴.۳, P=۰.۰۱۱) were independently associated with Health Promoting Lifestyle score. Conclusion: This study showed that more than half of students had a healthy lifestyle (۵۵%). The average score of virtual social networks used by students was high. Utilization of internet and the time of utilization were independent predictors of Health Promoting Lifestyle score.

Online Social Networking, Health-Related Behaviors, Healthy Lifestyle, Universities, Students