Model of Health Behaviour Changes among Students

Abstract

Health is the primary key to the well-being of every human being. The healthcare practice should start from a young age and continue to be nurtured. However, the report of the Malaysian Youth Index 2015 (IBM '15) shows the overall health score of Malaysian youth is at a moderate level with a score of 68.42. Similarly, the nutrition practice score is at an alarming level of only 43.52 and needs to be given serious attention by all parties. A study conducted among IPTA students found that health literacy is a factor that predicts health information-seeking behaviour. Students with good health literacy (searching for health information through the Internet) can impact health management and are a determinant of good health quality. Therefore this study examines whether the search for health information through the Internet influences their health behaviours. In general, this study uses a survey method using a survey form on 261 respondents consisting of USAS students to determine factors that contribute to changes in health behaviours. It showed that the goal factor gave significant results with a value of F = 37.468, p <0.05, and a combination of goal factors with context factors (F = 21.584, p <0.05). Significantly that goal factor contributed 12.6% of the variance to health behaviour change (R2 = 0.126) for 261 students. These findings mean that goal factors are the main predictors that influence student health behaviours.