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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Sacha Z. Pampalone, MPH, Kathleen J. Zavela, PhD, CHES, and Patricia A. Cost, PhD, CHES. Community Health and Nutrition, University of Northern Colorado, Gunter Hall, Greeley, CO 80639, 970.222.1688, szp445@hotmail.com
Understanding the relationship between beliefs and likelihood to participating in behaviors conducive to health is important in the pursuit of influencing health behaviors and implementing programs to improve health behaviors. Beliefs play a critical role in influencing (Wardle & Steptoe, 1991) and predicting behavior (Steptoe & Wardle, 1996). The purpose of this study was to examine a wide range of health behaviors and the belief of importance related to behavior. The International Survey of Personal Health Behaviors (1991) was administered to 819 undergraduate college students at a university in northern Colorado. Results were based on analyses of smoking, exercise, drinking, driving, eating, sleeping behaviors, and preventive measures. Overall, the frequency of participating in a healthy behavior corresponded to a high mean rating of the associated belief of the importance of carrying out that behavior. Several significant differences were found. Those who exercised more frequently believed it was highly important to exercise regularly as did those who believed practicing preventive screening or self-examination (i.e., breast exams, Pap smears, testicle examinations) was highly important were more likely to be examined or self-examine. Lower mean ratings were found for behaviors performed less frequently. Those who drank alcohol regularly did not believe it was important to abstain from consuming too much alcohol.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Behavior, College Students
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.