Healthy habits, healthy minds? AI-based evidence on lifestyle effects on student success and stress

Understanding how students’ daily habits shape their academic outcomes and well-being has become increasingly important in digitally enhanced and virtual learning environments, where autonomy, self-regulation, and balanced routines are critical for success. In this study, machine learning and SHAP-based explainability were applied to explore how study time, sleep, extracurricular activities, social interaction, and physical exercise influence GPA and stress levels among university students. Results showed that while increased study hours improved performance, excessive workloads elevated stress, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balanced daily routine. These findings provide practical guidance for improving student support and designing healthier learning ecosystems in virtual and hybrid educational contexts. This work directly contributes to UN SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing evidence-based insights to promote equitable and sustainable academic success in modern digital learning settings.