Health Promoting Lifestyles and Self –Efficacy in Adolescents in the City of Sanandaj, 2012.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Health promoting behaviors have significant effects on increase longevity, improve quality of life and reduce health care costs. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the health promoting lifestyle and its relationship with self –efficacy in adolescent girls and boys 14-18 years. Methodology: The participants in this study were 1500 adolescent student girls and boys age 14-18 years studying at governmental, semi –governmental, and non –governmental schools in the city of Sanandaj, Iran in 2013. Samples were selected randomly. Questionnaires used in the study were "Adolescent Healthy Lifestyle", "Sherer general self –efficacy" and demographic questionnaires. For data analysis we used descriptive statistics such as absolute and relative frequency, and central and dispersion indexes such as mean and standard deviation and bivariate statistical tests like T –test, Pearson test and one way ANOVA. Results: Mean (SD) of total score of health promoting lifestyles in adolescent boys and girls was 3.4 (0.6) and 3.5 (0.5) respectively. The highest mean score for both boys and girls was obtained for "life appreciation" subscales and the lowest for "health responsibility" and "physical activity" respectively. Self –efficacy had significant positive correlation with the total score of health promoting lifestyle and all its subscales in both adolescent boys and girls. Based on multivariate regression analysis, there was a significant statistical relationship between self –efficacy, course of education, fathers' employment and sufficiency of income for expenses with the total score of health promoting lifestyles and were able to explain 19% of the adolescent. Also, in adolescent girls, the variables of self –efficacy, current disease, mothers' education, mothers' occupation and sufficiency of income for expenses remained in the multivariate linear regression model and were able to explain 21% of the observed variance of the total score for health promoting lifestyle. Conclusion: The findings show both adolescent boys and girls "sometimes" to "often" be having health promoting behaviors. In addition to self –efficacy as the main predictor, some of the socio –demographic characteristics also are among the predictors of health behaviors. With consideration of adolescent years as a foundation for one's future life, it is necessary to provide strategies to promote lifestyle in adolescents.