Association between locus of control and health risk behaviors among college students / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To explore the prevalence of health risk behaviors and the association between locus of control and health risk behaviors among college students, and to provide reference for the formulation of health risk behavior intervention for college students.@*Methods@#A multi stage cluster random sampling method was used to select 2 provinces from the east, central and west regions of China, respectively. Two universities were then randomly selected from each selected province. A total of 3 951 college students from 12 universities completed the electronic and anonymous questionnaires, which included demographic characteristics, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Questionnaire (MHLC) and Health Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Chi square test and binary Logistic regression were applied to analyze data.@*Results@#Totally 2 287(57.88%) students reported having three or more kinds of health risk behaviors. The prevalence of excessive screen time, insufficient physical exercise, poor eating behaviors, drinking and smoking were 97.34%(3 846), 74.72%(2 952), 72.21%(2 853), 13.62%(538) and 5.57%(220). Internal locus of control was associated with lower risk of three or more kinds of health risk behavior ( OR =0.98) and inadequate physical activity ( OR =0.93) and associated with higher risk of smoking ( OR =1.07). The powerful others was associated with lower risk of three or more kinds of health risk behavior ( OR =0.98), drinking ( OR =0.95) and unhealthy eating behavior ( OR =0.97). And the chance was associated with higher risk of three or more kinds of health risk behavior ( OR = 1.04 ), drinking ( OR =1.04) and inadequate physical activity ( OR =1.03)( P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#College students have serious health risk behavior problems, the locus of control is associated with health risk behaviors among college students. Which might be helpful to prevent the occurrence of health risk behaviors, and improve overall health of college students.