SELF-IDENTIFIED REASONS FOR HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATORS.
Contributors: University of Florida.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 218
Subjects: Education, Higher.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the self-identified reasons individuals perceived as helping or hindering them in making health behavior changes after a risk assessment. A corporation in the Southeastern United States contracted with a community hospital for health risk assessment services for its employees. Forty-six employees identified as being at risk where interviewed by telephone eight months later with a twelve-question interview protocol developed by the researcher. The sample contained 30 males and 16 females, 59% Caucasian, with the most frequent age range being 31-40.

A statistical difference was found between the responses of males and females as to whether the workplace affected their health behaviors (Chi-Square $-$ sig. p $<$.05). Only 61% of the men said yes as opposed to 89% of the women. Seventy-three percent of individuals felt their place of employment affected their health behaviors with 47% identifying a negative effect.

Most individuals took the risk assessment to evaluate their health status with 1/3 receiving results they did not expect. Seventy-four percent felt the assessment helped them, but 50% wanted more information on how to correct the problems identified.

Eighty percent identified someone who had an impact on their health behaviors with support as the most important method of impact. In addition, sixty-seven percent identified events affecting their health behavior, with tragic events identified most often and the majority of events perceived as helpful (including events identified as tragic).

Pride and self-image were identified most frequently as helping behavior change. Health, seeing positive results, and support were identified most frequently as incentives for health behavior change. No respondents rated themselves unhealthy.

In summary, there is considerable variability in the reasons people identify for making health behavior changes, and it is important for educators to recognize these individual differences when working with clients.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-07, Section: A, page: 1964.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, 1988.

School code: 0070.