Predictors of Health‐Promoting Behaviors Among Freshman Dental Students at Istanbul University

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the predictors of health-promoting behaviors among freshman dental students at Istanbul University. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 111 students using questionnaires including a sociodemographic section, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Proile II, the Health Value Scale, the Generalized Self-Eficacy Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple linear regression. The overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors among these students were at a moderate level, indicating that they engaged in health-promoting behaviors sometimes to often. They scored highest on the spiritual growth but lower on the health responsibility subscales. Females reported having engaged more in health responsibility behaviors and lower in physical activity than did males. Students from high-income families reported more physical activity. Signiicant correlations were found between overall health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, self-eficacy, health value, stress, and social support. Among all the related factors, self-eficacy was the most strongly predictive factor: it explained 61 percent of the variance in overall health-promoting behaviors. Thus, self-eficacy as a cognitive-perceptual factor should be considered by dental educators when planning educational interventions to promote students' healthy lifestyle.

Health-Promoting Behaviours of University Nursing Students in Jordan

“…The mean score for the HPLP II showed that students practiced healthpromoting behaviours at a moderate level. Congruent results were reported in previous studies [15] [17] [19] [20]. Nevertheless, nursing students have significantly higher life style behaviours scores than non-nursing university students [21].…”

“…In Thailand, studies showed that nursing students and physical therapy students demonstrated moderate level of health-promoting behaviours [15] [17] [18]. Similar findings were reported in studies conducted in Turkey on dental students [19] and nursing students [20]. On the other side, a study conducted in Iran reported that nursing and other health science students had poor level of health-promoting behaviours [16].…”

“…Studies also investigated health-promoting behaviours in relation to socio-demographic factors. When considering gender, female students engaged more in health responsibility behaviours and nutrition than male students who showed higher levels on physical activity than females [11] [19]. While, a study including 307 Mexican university students found that male students displayed overall healthier profile, and better on stress management and exercise than female students [29].…”

Relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviors and health locus of control and health‐specific self‐efficacy in university students

“…In addition, in a meta‐analysis on positive health behaviors, 14 variables, predictors of positive health behaviors, were examined and self‐efficacy was reported to have a moderate effect (Yarcheski, Mahon, Yarcheski, & Cannella, ). Moreover, in a study on older adults, Peker and Bermek () found that self‐efficacy was the most powerful predictor of health‐promoting behaviors. It is clear that perceived self‐efficacy is the most essential prerequisite for a change in health behavior and a good predictor for health behaviors.…”

Predictors of Health-Promoting Behaviors Among Kurdish Healthcare Providers in Iraqi Kurdista

“…Since the healthcare providers play a positive role, it is crucial for the society to yield responsibility for their health. The educational and community-based programs focus on the healthy individuals (ECBP-HP, 2010) and emphasize the importance of preventing disease and improving the quality of life (Peker & Bermek 2011). Although several worksites do not yet offer comprehensive health-promoting agendas, investigations have archived the ability of workplace programs for superior health outcomes.…”