Gender differences in health-promoting behaviors and psychological well-being of Palestinian medical students based on the HPLP II

Background: Medical school is considered a critical developmental stage for students. They face many challenges and rapid changes. Unfortunately, they adopt unhealthy behav-iors that can negatively affect their future health and role as healthcare providers in some cases. Objective: This research aimed to compare gender disparities in health-promoting hab-its among Palestinian medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out us-ing the HPLP II mean scores d out on 400 students composed of 22.25% males and 77.75% females. According to Pender's model, a self-reported anonymous questionnaire, including the health-promoting lifestyle profile II, was distributed to a convenient sample of students during the Spring of 2018. Data analysis was performed using descriptive analysis and para-metric tests. Results: Gender differences in the total health-promoting lifestyle profile II scores and health responsibility were significant, with females having higher scores than males. Males were more significantly engaged in the physical activity subscale than females (p < 0.01). Females scored significantly higher than males in the interpersonal relations sub-scale (p < 0.001). Gender differences in other subscales were statistically insignificant. Con-clusions: This study might give healthcare providers and educators insights into developing specific warranted interventions and gender-sensitive measures to orient medical students to-wards better healthy lifestyles. Medical schools are invited to prioritize healthy styles and be-haviors based on gender in the curriculum.