Health-related locus of control and health behaviour among university students in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany

BMC Research Notes

Rafael T Mikolajczyk¹  Alexander Krämer²  Stefanie M Helmer² 

[1]Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

[2]School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany

关键词: Cross-National Student Health Study;    Students;    Health behaviour;    Locus of control;   

Others  :  1145195
DOI  :  10.1186/1756-0500-5-703

 received in 2012-01-11, accepted in 2012-12-12,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Health control beliefs were postulated to be associated with health behaviour. However, the results of studies assessing these associations suggest that they might not be universal. Among young adults associations have been reported, but the evidence is limited. The objective of this analysis was to re-examine these associations in a sample of university students in Germany.

Findings

Data from a multicentre cross-sectional study among university students in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany was used (N=3,306). The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale with three dimensions (one internal and two external) and six aspects of health behaviour (smoking habits, alcohol use, drug consumption, being over-/ or underweight, physical activity, and importance of healthy nutrition) were evaluated. Students with stronger internal locus of control paid more attention to healthy nutrition and displayed a higher level of physical activity. Individuals with a stronger belief in health professionals were less likely to use drugs and paid more attention to healthy nutrition. Furthermore, higher scores in the second external locus of control dimension (beliefs in luck or chance) were associated with a higher likelihood of current smoking, lower physical activity and less attention to healthy nutrition.

Conclusions

Students engaged more strongly in unhealthy behaviour if they believed that luck determines health. In contrast, believing in having control over one’s own health was associated with more healthy behaviour. These findings support the need to consider health control beliefs while designing preventive strategies in this specific population.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Helmer et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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