FACTORS RELATED TO HEALTH PROMOTION BEHAVIOR IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AT EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AREA OFFICE 18 CHON BURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This descriptive study determined the relationship between personal, predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors, and health promotion behavior of junior high school students. Pender’s Health Promotion Model was used as a conceptual framework. Four hundred students from junior high school at educational service area office 18 in Chon Buri province were recruited to samples in the study. The samples were asked to the questionnaire on the health promotion behavior related to personal, predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient and Chi-square were used to analyze the data.

Results showed that the overall health promoting behavior scores of students were at a moderate level. For age, body mass index and parent income were significantly related to health promoting behavior (p<.05). Predisposing and enabling factors significantly associated with health behavior of the students were the knowledge, perception of health status, and support from health care providers (p<.01). Accessing health care service was associated with having support from the family (p<.001). These finding demonstrated useful information for health care providers and others to apply, on health planning to improve appropriate health behavior and developing quality of life in junior high school students.