EKSPLORASI PERAN BUDAYA MAHASISWA DALAM MEMBENTUK PERILAKU PREVENTIF PENYAKIT DEGENERATIF DAN KESIAPSIAGAAN BENCANA SEBAGAI UPAYA RESILIENSI KESEHATAN

Abstract

The complex interaction among contemporary student culture—characterized by social gatherings (“hanging out”), consumption of instant food, digital dependency, and academic pragmatism—and the two fundamental pillars of health resilience: early prevention of degenerative diseases and disaster preparedness. Amid Indonesia's demographic transition, which promises a demographic bonus by 2045, a concerning health challenge emerges: the productive-age population, particularly university students, exhibits a significantly increasing risk profile for catastrophic diseases, alongside high vulnerability to geological and hydrometeorological disasters.Using a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design and elements of rapid ethnography, this study synthesizes data from participatory field observation, in-depth interviews, and analysis of recent literature. The main findings reveal a sharp cognitive dissonance: students possess high theoretical literacy in health and disaster preparedness, yet their daily practices are dominated by an “instant culture” and optimism bias that hinder preventive action. Social rituals such as “hanging out” are identified as a double-edged sword; they serve as a vital stress-coping mechanism (social capital) while simultaneously incubating sedentary behavior, poor nutrition intake, and disrupted circadian rhythms.In the context of disasters, the phenomenon of “illusory preparedness” impedes the translation of knowledge into concrete mitigation actions, compounded by low self-efficacy and a pre-fragile physical condition. This report proposes a new framework for culture-based health resilience, integrating students’ social capital with sustainable behavioral interventions, rejecting conventional top-down approaches in favor of more organic, participatory, and culturally relevant strategies.