Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
College students--Health and hygiene; Health behavior; Health promotion; Preventive health services;
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether health condition affects the impact self-care information has on intentions to engage in preventive health behaviors. The concept of creating a "teachable moment" toward selfcare information based on health condition was also investigated. The theoretical model used in the study was the Health Belief Model (HBM). Participants (N = 202) were recruited from a health center at a midwestern university. The intervention used in the study was a self-care booklet. Participants were randomly assigned to either receive an envelope containing survey materials plus a self-care booklet and information sheet (n = 100), or to receive an envelope containing only the survey materials (n = 102). The survey materials found in all the envelopes consisted of a directions sheet, a demographic survey, questionnaires pertaining to the dimensions of the HBM--perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits and costs of engaging in preventive health behaviors, as well as a health knowledge survey, and behavioral intentions survey. recorded. The health condition of each participant was also Individuals were classified as unhealthy if they indicated they were currently in an ill and/or injured condition (n = 100). The results indicated that being in an unhealthy condition did not seem to be a "teachable moment" in increasing an individual's receptivity toward self-care information. The results also showed that gender, health condition, and a self-care booklet intervention did not appear to increase intentions to engage in preventive health behaviors. There were also no differences between the health conditions on the dimensions of the HBM. The only significant correlations found between the HBM components and behavioral intentions were perceived benefits (positive correlation) and perceived susceptibility (negative correlation). Specific behavioral intentions variables were analyzed, focusing on the effects of gender, health condition, and receipt of a self-care booklet. Possible reasons for the results found were explored.
Year of Submission
1995
Degree Name
Master of Arts
First Advisor
Shelton Smith
Second Advisor
Frank Barrios
Third Advisor
Beverly Kopper
Date Original
1995
Object Description
1 PDF file (131 leaves)
Copyright
©1995 Barbara Jane Houle
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Houle, Barbara Jane, "The Effect of Self-Care Information on Intentions to Engage in Preventive Health Behaviors of Healthy and Ill College Students" (1995). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2986.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2986
Comments
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