Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of healthy universities is crucial in leading society toward promoting healthy lifestyles and suitable environments. This study aims to compare causal relationship models of health behaviors and mental well-being among university students and staff. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an across-sectional study with a causal model design, using a stratified random sampling of 600 samples for structural equation modeling and multiple-group analysis during the period of September 2024-February 2025. RESULTS: The causal relationship models that were developed were found to be a good match with the empirical data. Acceptance was given to the goodness-of-fit indices for the student and staff groups. We found that the health behaviors and mental well-being of students and staff were not significantly different, as were the factor loadings of the observed variables and influence coefficients. CONCLUSION: Healthy behaviors and mental well-being among students and staff members at universities are greatly impacted by social interaction, health literacy, and work-life balance.