Predicting the effect of healthy lifestyle belief on attitude toward nutrition, exercise, physical activity, and weight-related self-efficacy in Turkish adolescents

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to examine the effect of healthy lifestyle beliefs on their attitudes toward physical activity, nutrition, exercise, and weight-related self-efficacy lifestyles in Turkish adolescents. MethodsThis study used a methodological and descriptive design. The study was conducted with 445 adolescents aged 13–18 years. The data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale for Adolescents, the Nutrition Exercise Attitudes Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Scale. Mean and percentage values, t-test, ANOVA test, and linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of the research data. ResultsA statistically significant difference was found between adolescents’ obesity status, paternal educational level, maternal educational level, income status, and the mean scores obtained for healthy lifestyle beliefs, nutrition and exercise attitudes, physical activity attitudes, and weight-related self-efficacy, as well as between sex and mean scores for attitudes toward nutrition, exercise, and physical activity. In the model created with regression analysis, it was found that the adolescents’ healthy lifestyle beliefs and sociodemographic variables explained 96.3% of their attitudes toward nutrition and exercise, 93.6% of physical activity attitudes, and 96.5% of weight-related self-efficacy levels, with statistical significance. ConclusionAccording to the results of the study, healthy lifestyle beliefs are an important predictor of adolescents’ attitudes toward nutrition, exercise, and physical activity as well as their weight-related self-efficacy. We recommend that school nurses consider healthy lifestyle beliefs when creating intervention programs for adolescents .