Health Promoting Behaviors of Students at Rangsit University

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate and compare health-promoting behaviors among students with varying personal factors, and examine the correlation between behavioral-specific cognitions and affect factors and health-promoting behaviors of Rangsit University students. The samples comprised 438 first to fourth year students from the academic year 2021 (2564 B.E.). Data collection involved a questionnaire with three sections: 1) personal factors, 2) health-promoting behaviors, and 3) behavioral-specific cognitions and affect factors, including perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, interpersonal influences, and situational influences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient.

The research findings revealed that sum- and sub-scale of students’ health-promoting behaviors were at a moderate level, with low levels observed in risky sexual behavior and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Students with different sex, academic year levels, faculties of study, and maternal education levels showed statistically significant differences in health-promoting behaviors. Factors such as perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, and interpersonal influences have statistically significant positive correlations with health-promoting behaviors, whereas perceived barriers presented negatively correlate with health-promoting behaviors. This study highlights the need for tailored health-promoting activities or programs that consider gender, faculty, and academic year; additionally activity design should be regarded students' behavioral-specific cognitions and affect factors.