Health Promoting Lifestyle Practices among University Students

Yoon, Eun Ja

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of Health Promoting Lifestyle Practices among university students. The survey data used in this study were collected from 282 students of one university in Chungju City. The instruments of this study was a structured questionnaire included health promoting lifestyle scale developed Walker, et al., and sociodemographic characteristics. Analysis of data was done by use of mean, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, DUNCAN's multiple-range test and Pearson's correlation coefficients with SAS/pc program. Major findings are as follows : 1. The average score for the health promoting lifestyle practices was low at 103.5. In the subcategories, the highest degree of performance was interpersonal support(2.77), and the lowest degree was health responsibility(1.49). 2. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of health promoting lifestyle practices according to sex(t=1.6997, p=.000), grade(F=8.82, p=.000). 3. There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of self-actualization according to grade(F=6.48, p=.002), college(F=2.58, p=.038). There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of health responsibility, exercise, stress management according to sex(t=4.3155, p=.000 ; t=6.2652, p=.000 ; t=1.7244, p=.0012), grade(F=4.28, p=.0018 ; F=4.46, p=.011 ;F=5.76, p=.004). There was a statistically significant difference in the degree of nutrition according to grade(F=5.80, p=.003). 4. Significant correlations were found between most of the subcategories and total health promoting lifestyle. Therefore, the findings of research can serve as the basis for developing health-promoting programs in General Education Courses among university students.