Perceived Health Status, Psychological Well-Being and Health Promotion Behavior of College Students

Background/Objectives:This study is descriptive research aimed at determining the association with perceived health status and psychological well-being affecting health promotion behavior and at providing basic data that could help develop programs for health care and healthy lifestyle of college students in early adulthood.

Method/Statistical Analysis:The data were collected from 194 students at colleges in B City from March 5 to 22, 2019. The collected data were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation analysis using an SPSS/WIN 23.0 program.

Findings:The respondents scored an average of 2.38 out of 5 for perceived health status. They scored an average of 2.27 out of 5 for psychological well-being and 2.57 out of 5 for health promotion behavior. Perceived health status was significantly positively correlated with psychological well-being (r=.617, p<.001) and health promotion behavior (r=.516, p<.001). Psychological well-being was significantly positively correlated with health promotion behavior (r=.667, p<.001). Perceived grade, household financial status and smoking and alcohol intake status made significant differences and psychological well-being differed significantly by religion, grade, major satisfaction and residence type. Health promotion behavior differed significantly by major, gender, household financial status and academic achievement.

Improvements/Applications:It is necessary to develop customized programs that can help college students feel and improve psychological well-being with the objective of promoting health promotion behavior in pursuit of health care and healthy lifestyle.