Exploring factors that impact healthy living and academic success: A social-ecological models approach

College presents a significant challenge as students juggle academics, relationships, and extracurricular commitments. For many, maintaining this balance can be overwhelming, often leading to negative effects on mental and physical health. According to the American College Health Association (ACHA, 2024), students who struggle with academics, relationships, and procrastination report experiencing moderate to high levels of distress. While regular physical activity is widely recognized for its positive impact on mental health, fewer than 65% of surveyed students meet the recommended weekly exercise guidelines (ACHA, 2024). This course seeks to address a range of health-related challenges using the social-ecological model (SEM) as a guiding framework. The SEM, developed by McLeroy et al. (1988), examines how personal, interpersonal, policy, and environmental factors shape individual health outcomes. Recognizing the strong link between academic success and well-being, students will engage with scholarly literature, media, and practical tools to explore key issues such as physical inactivity, sexual health, social media overuse, and social isolation. They will also collaborate to develop an action plan toolkit to promote healthier lifestyles among college students and the broader campus community.