Health-Promoting Behaviors and Psychosocial Well-Being of University Students in Hong Kong

The objective of this study was to examine health‐promoting behaviors and psychosocial well‐being of university students in Hong Kong. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using convenience sample (n = 247) of students recruited at various locations on campus. The Chinese version of the Health Prom...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.) Mass.), 2005-05, Vol.22 (3), p.209-220
Main Authors:	Lee, Regina L. T., Loke, Alice J. T. Yuen
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adult Attitude to Health Biological and medical sciences Cross-Sectional Studies Diet Exercise Female Habits Health Behavior - ethnology Health Education Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health Promotion - methods Health Services Needs and Demand Health Status health-promoting behaviors Hong Kong Humans Life Style Male Medical sciences Mental Health Miscellaneous Nursing Nursing Methodology Research psychosocial well-being Public Health Nursing Public health. Hygiene Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine Self Care - methods Self Care - psychology Sex Factors Spirituality Stress, Psychological - prevention & control Students - psychology Surveys and Questionnaires Universities university students
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Summary:	The objective of this study was to examine health‐promoting behaviors and psychosocial well‐being of university students in Hong Kong. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using convenience sample (n = 247) of students recruited at various locations on campus. The Chinese version of the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP‐II; S. Walker, K. Sechrist, & N. Pender, 1995) was given to students as a questionnaire. Relatively few university students had a sense of “health responsibility” (6.5–27.1%), engaged in any form of physical activity (31.2%), or exercised regularly (13.8%). Less than half ate fruits (35.2%) and vegetables (48.9%) every day. Positive personal growth was reported by 50.6% of the students; 42.5% used stress‐management skills and 74.1% rated their interpersonal relationships as meaningful and fulfilling. Students' scores on the health responsibility, nutritional habits, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, or stress‐management subscales of the HPLP‐II did not differ significantly by gender, but males scored better than females (p = 0.001) on the physical exercise subscale. This study provides information on gender differences and specific needs of students which can help university administrators, curriculum planners, and community health professionals design guidelines for structuring a healthier environment and developing health education programs that support healthy choices among university students.
ISSN:	0737-1209 1525-1446