Health-Promoting Behaviors of High School Students in Northern East Turkey-A Cross-Sectional Study


Creative Commons License

Okur A., Karaoğlu L., Sualp B.

Rize Tıp Dergisi, vol.3, no.1, pp.37-55, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 3 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Journal Name: Rize Tıp Dergisi
  • Page Numbers: pp.37-55
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Considering the fact that current health-promoting behaviors of adolescents will shape the health of the next generation, most countries collect data on the subject in order to plan necessary health programs timely. This study aimed to determine the level of health-promoting behaviors of the ninth and eleventh-grade high school students in the city of Rize and the associated factors. Using a cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015, involving 641 students. Data were collected in the classrooms by administring a self-responded questionnaire. The questionnaire included the Turkish version of Adolescent Health Promotion Scale (AHPS). AHPS has six domains and forty items. Scores were calculated on a 0-100 scale. Getting a score over 60 was defined as good healthpromoting behavior. Mann Whitney U, and Backward Logistic Regression tests were used for data analysis. Of the students, 56.0% were girls, and 59.6 % were in the ninth grade. The total AHPS mean score was 60.8± 0.6. Of the participants, 54.9% scored over 60. The mean scores of domains, life appreciation, social support, stress management, health responsibility, nutrition and exercise were 69.2±0.8, 64.7±0.8, 59.7±0.7, 59.2±0.7, 56.6± 0.7, and 48.3±1.0, respectively. Parental education, and employment, perceived family income, current health 1 status, gender, alcohol/cigarette use were the associated factors with health- promoting behaviors in the univariate analysis. Having an employed father (OR:4.6) and being a nonsmoker (OR:2.2) were the independent predictors for good health-promoting behavior. High school students in Rize showed a moderate level of health-promoting behaviors. The poorest behaviors were in exercise and nutrition. Comprehensive school health program and supportive environment was recommended to improve health promotive behaviors of the students.