Health Promoting Behaviors and Influencing Factors in Middle School Students: Focus on Optimism and Pessimism

Kim, Namsun; Kwon, Mikyung

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify predictors of behavior that promotes health in middle school students. METHOD: The participants for this study were 361 students from one middle school, located in Gangwon province. The data were collected by a questionnaire given to the students. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
The highest score for behavior promoting health was refraining illegal substances abuse. There was a significant positive correlation between behavior promoting health and optimism. There was a significant reverse correlation between behavior promoting health and pessimism, and also between optimism and pessimism. The predictors of behavior promoting health in middle school students were optimism, school life, pessimism, school record, grade, and smoking. These factors explained 25.7% of the total variance and the most powerful predictor was optimism (15.5%).
CONCLUSION
The findings from this study, indicate a need to develop a nursing intervention programs to promote health behavior in middle school students including the promotion of optimism.