Hustle-culture and Health Neglect: Sleep, Diet and Self-Care Practices of Gen Z Students and Entrepreneurs in Bayelsa State

Abstract

This study explored hustle-culture and health neglect among students and entrepreneurs of the Gen Z generation in Ekeremor LGA in Bayelsa State. The study was guided by four objectives. The study adopted the theory of Work-Life Balance (WLB). The descriptive survey method of research was used. The projected population size for the study was 430,321 people, of which a sample size of 450 was determined by the application of Taro Yamane's formula. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select eligible respondents. Data were elicited from a structured questionnaire with the validity tested by expert review, and reliability was tested by the coefficient of Cronbach's alpha, which took a value of more than 0.7, within an acceptable limit. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. The findings revealed that respondents are involved in hustle culture, which involves performing more than one line of work, working long hours, and having to be productive with both academic and entrepreneurial activities. The study also revealed that ‘hustle culture’ was linked to less sleep time, irregular sleep routines, fatigue during the day, and poor sleep quality. It also promoted unhealthy eating habits such as irregular eating patterns and poor nutritional status. Based on the findings, the study recommends heightened initiatives to raise awareness among young people about their health and fitness, and also suggests health practitioner association programmes, young people's economic empowerment, and promotion of responsible content for the digital creators to promote healthy life among them. Future research needs to employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to offer more in-depth information on the connection between hustle culture and health neglect among Generation Z.