Profiling Adolescent Lifestyles and Their Sociodemographic Drivers: A School-Based Study from Rawalpindi, Pakistan

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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is the phase of life when an individual develops habits that lead to their health outcomes in later life stages; yet, comprehensive evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan remains limited. This study examined the lifestyle behaviors of school-going adolescents in Rawalpindi and their correlation with key sociodemographic factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in four (public and private) schools, using multistage cluster sampling (n = 675). Lifestyle behaviors were examined within seven predefined domains. K-means cluster analysis was used for the identification of distinct behavioral profiles. Associations with age, gender, and school type were examined using Chi-square tests. Correlations within clusters were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test. Results: The majority of adolescents demonstrated positive life perspectives (88.3%) and strong interpersonal relationships (83.8%), while nutrition (16.2%), physical activity (31.7%), and health responsibility (15.0%) were weaker domains. Cluster analysis revealed three groups: poor (n = 129), moderate (n = 334), and good (n = 212) lifestyle behaviors. Statistically significant associations were found between lifestyle profiles and both age group (p = 0.037) and school type (p = 0.007), with private school students being more likely to exhibit healthier behaviors. Gender differences were notable in physical activity, but not significant in other domains. Conclusions: Interventions targeting low-performing domains, especially physical activity and nutrition, are needed—particularly for females and public school students. These findings highlight the importance of targeted, school-based lifestyle interventions in resource-limited settings.

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