Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile Scores Research Articles

Do health-promoting lifestyle approaches manage mental health among adolescent/young college students?

College students are often still relatively young, making their mental health more likely to be overlooked. A healthy lifestyle is considered the key to preventing and controlling mental health problems nowadays. This study aimed to investigate whether health-promoting lifestyle approaches manage mental health among adolescent/young college students. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 187 adolescent/young college students at Babol Medical Science University, Babol, Iran. Characteristic demographics, health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP), and general health questionnaire-28(GHQ-28) were filled out by students. The data were analyzed using correlation coefficient and simple and multiple linear regressions. The majority of participants were adolescents (66.8%), single (97.9%), and bachelor's students (70.1%). The mean of the HPLP and GHQ scores was 125.09±18.12, and 33.58±10.50, respectively. HPLP was a negative significant predictor of mental health (β = -.261, P= .0001). There was a negative significant association between HPLP dimensions (except physical activity) and mental health. After adjusting for other variables, there was a significant relationship between HPLP with mother occupation (β =.186, P=.038), and mother education (β = -.219, P= .034). Furthermore, gender (β = .175, P= .031), and occupation (β =-.157, P= .040) were predictors of GHQ in adolescent/young college students. Regarding the health-promoting lifestyle situation among students and its relation with the better mental health, the design and implementation of HPLP education programs is recommended.

Exploration of the midwifery students' health-promoting lifestyle behaviors according to their body mass indexes and body perceptions

The present study aims to examine the health-promoting lifestyle behaviors of midwifery students according to their body mass indexes and body perceptions. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 239 midwifery students at a state university between May and June 2023. Research data were collected using the personal information form, Body Cathexis-Self Cathexis Scale (BC-SCS), and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). It was determined that the differences between the HPLP and the subscales of interpersonal support, nutrition, and self-actualization were statistically significant according to the students' body perceptions (p<0.05). Students who perceived themselves as slim have higher HPLP and self-actualization mean scores than those who perceived themselves as fat, and it was determined that they have a higher nutrition mean score than those who perceived them as having normal weight. It was determined that the Interpersonal Support mean score of those who perceived themselves as fat was lower. When the mean scores of the students from the HPLP were compared according to their BMI, it was determined that the differences between HPLP and the subscales of interpersonal support, health responsibility, stress management, and self-actualization are statistically significant (p<0.05). According to the research, it is seen that the distribution of healthy lifestyles differs between the body perceptions of midwifery students and their Body Mass Indexes (BMI).

Health Anxiety, Health Perception, and Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Among Psychiatric Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To compare the health anxiety and healthy lifestyle behavior experienced by psychiatric patients due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with that of a control group.Methods: The study included 120 outpatients (aged 18-65 years) diagnosed with a psychiatric illness (DSM-5 criteria) who presented to a psychiatry outpatient clinic between June and August 2020. The control group included 120 healthy individuals with a similar age and sex distribution as the patient group. Data were collected with a questionnaire developed by the authors to determine the participants' adherence to COVID-19 hygiene rules and associated behavioral norms. The Health Anxiety Scale-Short Form, Health Perception Scale, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile were completed by all participants.Results: The mean Health Anxiety Scale score was significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (P < .01). Health anxiety was high in 8% of the patients and 32% of the controls. Also, the mean Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile score was statistically significantly lower in the patient group compared to the control group (P < .01). There was no significant difference between the groups based on health perception scores and adherence to hygiene rules.Conclusions: As expected, the healthy lifestyle behavior of individuals without psychiatric illness was higher compared to those with mental disorders. However, health anxiety about COVID-19 was higher among healthy individuals compared to those with a psychiatric disorder. Thus, it could be suggested that individuals without a psychiatric illness prior to the pandemic could need psychiatric assistance after the pandemic.

A Comparative Study on Psychosocial Factors between Mothers of Infants with and without Physical Abnormalities

Introduction: Congenital anomalies are one of the most important causes of disability and mortality in childhood seen in developing and developed countries. Mothers with physically-abnormal newborns have unfavorable lifestyle compared to mothers with healthy infants. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the difference between mothers of infants with and without physical abnormalities in terms of psychosocial factors. Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study with two study groups; the case group (n=133) consists of mothers who had babies with birth defects referred to health centers in Amol city, Iran for postnatal care in 2018. The control group (n=133) included mothers with healthy infants in this city. They were selected using a convenience sampling method. Measurement tools included a Socio-demographic form, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSSS), Coping Strategies Scale - Short Form (CSS-SF), Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), and General Health Questionnaire - Short Form (GHQ-SF). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and t-test. Results: A total of 266 mothers with a mean age of 31.9±5.6 years were examined. There was a significant difference between the two groups of mothers in terms of overall HPLP score (P=0.01), and its dimensions of spiritual growth (P&lt;0.05), physical activity, nutrition (P=0.01), and stress management (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, a significant difference was reported between them in terms of MPSSS and its dimensions of social support from friends, family, and significant others (P=0.01). Furthermore, There was a significant difference between them with respect to GHQ dimensions of anxiety/insomnia, and depression (P&lt;0.01); CSS dimensions of escape avoidance and emotion-focused coping strategies (P=0.01); and PDQ and its dimensions of concerns about the delivery and the health of the baby, and about the body weight/image (P=0.01). Conclusion: Mothers of infants with and without birth defects are significantly different from each other in terms of psychosocial factors. It seems that poor psychosocial variables in mothers during pregnancy can act as a risk factor for congenital anomalies.

Determinants of health-promoting lifestyles amongst Indian University students

ABSTRACT The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in young Indians underscores a compelling need to instil healthy lifestyles in adolescents and young adults. The present study aimed to assess the health-promoting lifestyles of freshmen admitted to institutes under seven different faculties of an international university in India. The study was conducted across five Indian cities and recruited 4253 participants pursuing both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Information on socio-demographic factors and health-promoting lifestyle behaviours using a modified Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) scale was collected. The total HPLP and sub-scale scores for six domains were estimated. Univariate and age and gender-adjusted multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the determinants of health-promoting lifestyle scores. Gender-wise distribution of total HPLP and subscale scores indicated significant differences between female and male university students except for spiritual growth (P = 0.300). Overall, female students secured significantly higher total HPLP scores than male students (139.8 vs 137.6, P=0.000). Multivariate models showed that students from the faculties of Management and Law 3.15 (CI: 1.61, 4.68) and Humanities and Social sciences 4.90 (CI: 3.24, 6.58) had lower total HPLP scores compared to students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) faculty. The faculty, zone, and residential status predicted nutrition sub-scale scores. Interestingly, students from North zone campuses (b − 0.62 (CI: −0.92, −0.32)) than west zone, and international students (b − 1.18 (CI: −2.11, −0.24)) compared to domestic students had lower nutrition sub-scale scores. Gender and faculty-specific targeted interventions could promote the healthy lifestyles of young Indian University students.

How Do International Students’ Acculturation Attitudes Affect Their Health-Promoting Behaviors in Turkey?

Abstract This is a cross-sectional study that explores the effects of acculturation attitudes on the health-promoting behaviors of international students in Isparta, Turkey. The study was carried out in eight departments at Suleyman Demirel University. The sample comprised 138 students. The data were collected using three forms: the Data Form, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) scale, and the Acculturation Attitudes Scale. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between the mean HPLP scores and the mean acculturation attitude scores (r=0.321, p&lt;0.001). It is important for health professionals working with international students to understand the interactions between acculturation attitude and health-promoting behavior.

Relationships between depression, health‑related behaviors, and internet addiction in female junior college students.

IntroductionDepressive emotions can lead to subsequent unhealthy behaviors such as Internet addiction, especially in female adolescents; therefore, studies that examine the relationships among depression, health‑related behaviors, and Internet addiction in female adolescents are warranted.PurposeTo examine (1) the relationship between depression and health-related behaviors and (2) the relationship between depression and Internet addiction.MethodA cross-sectional study design was adopted using a structured questionnaire to measure depression, health-related behaviors, and Internet addiction in female adolescents. The data were collected from students of a junior college in southern Taiwan using convenience sampling to select the participants. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: demographics, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT).ResultsThe final sample comprised 503 female junior college students, with the participants mainly aged between 15 to 22 years (mean age = 17.30 years, SD = 1.34). Regarding the HPLP scores, the overall score, nutrition subscale score, and self-actualization subscale score were significantly and negatively associated with the CES-D depression score (p < 0.05–0.01). In other words, depression level was lower in students who exhibited more healthy behaviors, put more emphasis on dietary health, and had higher levels of self-admiration and confidence toward life. Regarding the IAT scores, the overall score and six domain scores were all positively associated (p < 0.01) to the CES-D depression score. In other words, the higher an individual’s Internet addiction score was, the higher her depression level was.ConclusionsThe results confirmed the relationship between depression, health-related behaviors, and Internet addiction. The cultivation of health-related behaviors may help in lowering depressive symptoms. Teenagers with depression have higher risks of developing Internet addiction, and such addiction is likely to affect their daily functioning.

Relationship of sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors in female junior college students.

IntroductionSmartphone usage has become commonplace and impact on sleep quality among adolescents. Adolescent girls have a greater tendency toward sleep quality problems. However, relationship of sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors in female junior college students has not been studied.ObjectivesThis study had the two goals: to investigate the relationship between female college students' sleep quality, smartphone dependence, and health-related behaviors, and to identify predictors of sleep quality.MethodsThis study employed a cross-sectional research approach to gather 409 subjects at a junior college in southern Taiwan, and used a structured questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of four parts: basic demographic data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, assessment of smartphone dependence, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Logistic regression analysis was employed to check for any association between sleep quality and smartphone dependence or HPLP.ResultsSleep quality was significantly associated with degree of smartphone dependence, total HPLP score, and scores on the four HPLP subscales of nutritional behavior, self-actualization, interpersonal support, and stress management behavior. The lower the subjects' degree of smartphone dependence was, the better their sleep quality was. Furthermore, the degree of smartphone dependence and total HPLP score were significant predictors of sleep quality.ConclusionsSmartphone dependence is associated with poor sleep quality among female college students. Improving health-related behaviors (nutritional behavior, self-actualization, interpersonal support, and stress management behavior) can also promote improvement in sleep quality.

Health Related Lifestyle Behaviors among Undergraduate Medical Students in Patan Academy of Health Sciences in Nepal

Objectives: This descriptive study of 219 undergraduate medical students at Patan Academy of Health Sciences in Nepal was conducted to evaluate the relationships of their demographic variables with a health-promoting lifestyle profile. Methods: The Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) questionnaire was used to study students’ lifestyles. We compared the HPLP scores according to gender, residence type, school background and year of study. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparison test were conducted to identify significant differences among university year (first, second, third and fourth) groups. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of various demographics on the overall HPLP score and the six health-promoting lifestyle subscales. Results: The overall HPLP mean score of participants was 2.60 ± 0.29, with the highest mean scores being for spiritual growth (2.99 ± 0.42) and interpersonal relations (2.90 ± 0.35), and the lowest mean scores being for health responsibility (2.39 ± 0.39) and physical activity (2.25 ± 0.54), respectively. The overall HPLP score of the students was the highest for the first year students at 2.65 ± 0.26. The male students had a better overall HPLP score, although female students obtained better score in some subscales such as health responsibility, interpersonal relations and nutrition. The students from a public school background had significantly higher scores for health responsibility, physical activity and stress management than those who graduated school level education from a private school. Conclusions: The results of this study reveal that the status of health promoting behaviors among the students was acceptable with ample room for improvement. Implementation of health education and promotion programs with an emphasis on the different dimensions of health lifestyle behaviors is recommended.

Assessment of healthy lifestyle behaviors after coronary artery bypass surgery.

After coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, there is a disease management process that patients should follow, and healthy behaviors play a key role in this process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the healthpromoting behaviors of patients after CABG surgery and to determine the influential factors. This was a cross-sectional study of 152 patients who were admitted to the polyclinic between March and June 2016 and underwent a CABG procedure. The data were collected using a patient information form and the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Number, percentage, SD, mean, independent t and analysis of variance tests were used to evaluate and describe the data. The mean age of the patients in the study was 58±13.71 years. Of the total, 6% of the patients were male, 55.4% stated that they had the CABG surgery between 1 and 4 months prior, and 88.4% went to check-ups regularly after discharge. The mean HPLP score of the enrolled patients was 110.28±17.32. The patients who were under 55 years of age, married, had a comfortable income, no comorbid disease, those who underwent the CABG surgery between 1 and 4 months earlier, went to follow-up regularly after discharge, and those who were educated about their disease had a higher HPLP score (p<0.05). This study found that patients who underwent CABG surgery had a moderate HPLP score and that training on health-promoting behaviors at discharge had a positive effect on their implementation.

Comparative Study on Health Promoting Behavior in Working and Non-working Mothers with Infants and Toddlers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare health promoting behavior between working and non-working mothers with infants and toddlers, and to investigate factors affecting the mothers’health promoting behavior. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted through conveniently sampled 403 women who visited the child health clinics at two public health centers. The questionnaire included the Health Promoting Life Style Profile (HPLP) and a visual analogue scale for subjective health status. ANCOVA, one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression were conducted using SPSS ver. 21. Results: Working mothers’ average HPLP score (2.30±0.37) was higher than non-working mother’s (2.15±0.37). The score of the physical activity subscale was lowest among the subscales and there was a difference between the two groups. Subjective mental health status was the only predictor of working mothers’health promoting behavior, and it explained 23.2% of variance in health promoting behavior. Subjective mental health status, education, and age were the predictors of non-working mothers’ health promoting behavior and they explained 27.2% of variance in health promoting behavior. Conclusion: According to the findings, both working and non-working mothers’ health promoting behaviors were low. To promote mothers’ health, it is necessary to develop diverse community health promotion programs to support mothers.

Pregnant Turkish women with low income: Their anxiety, health-promoting lifestyles, and related factors

This paper presents anxiety levels, health-promoting lifestyles and related factors among pregnant Turkish women with low income. A descriptive correlation and cross-sectional study was conducted at a state maternity hospital in Western Turkey. The paper reports on the data (n = 195) from the Spielberg State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The average HPLP score was low (mean 2.57, SD 0.42). The average STAI score was high (40.67 ± 9.48; 46.40 ± 8.09, respectively). A significant relation was detected between the trait anxiety, state anxiety, antenatal visit, perception of social support, living environment, family type and HPLP (P < 0.05). A moderately negative relation was detected between the mean STAI and HPLP scores. The findings indicate information and data should be provided for service planning and community care to support pregnant Turkish women with low income in communities.

Health-promoting Lifestyle Behaviour for Cancer Prevention: a Survey of Turkish University Students

Health risks associated with unhealthy behaviours in adolescent and university students contribute to the development of health problems in later life. During the past twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in public, private, and professional interest in preventing disability and death through changes in lifestyle and participation in screening programs. The aim of the study was to evaluate university students' health-promoting lifestyle behaviour for cancer prevention. This study was carried out on university students who had education in sports, health and social areas in Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. The health-promoting lifestyles of university students were measured with the "health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP)" The survey was conducted from March 2011 to July 2011 and the study sample consisted of 1007 university students. T-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analyses were used for statistical analyses. In the univariate analyses, the overall HPLP score was significantly related to students' school, sex, age, school grades, their status of received health education lessons, place of birth, longest place of residence, current place of residence, health insurance, family income, alcohol use, their status in sports, and self-perceived health status. Healthier behaviour was found in those students whose parents had higher secondary degrees, and in students who had no siblings. In the multiple regression model, healthier behaviour was observed in Physical Education and Sports students, fourth-year students, those who exercised regularly, had a good self-perceived health status, who lived with their family, and who had received health education lessons. In general, in order to ensure cancer prevention and a healthy life style, social, cultural and sportive activities should be encouraged and educational programmes supporting these goals should be designed and applied in all stages of life from childhood through adulthood.

Study of sense of coherence health promoting behavior in north Indian students

Background & objectives:With advances in knowledge about health promotion, public health professionals are in search for the determinants of personal health behaviours. This study was carried out to explore the level of engagement of north Indian students in health promoting behaviours; to determine their sense of coherence scores; and to ascertain the determinants of health promoting behaviours of these students.Methods:A cross-sectional study was done in four randomly selected colleges of Chandigarh during 2007-2008 in 200 students (100 male, 100 female). Their health promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) and sense of coherence (SOC) scores were estimated using interviews. The data were analyzed using Pearson's product moment correlation, and also stepwise linear regression analysis.Results:Mean HPLP and SOC scores of the students were 138.69 and 130.87, respectively. Females cared more about their health than males. Male students were more involved in physical activities. There was a linear correlation between the total SOC and HPLP scores (r=0.3). Female students (63%) consulted doctors more than males (50%) and washed their hands more regularly (P<0.05). Only 13 per cent students practiced yoga regularly. Female students had more meaningful relationships with friends and had more faith in God. Regression equation revealed that the two independent variables (SOC and age) accounted for 10.8 per cent of the variance in HPLP.Interpretation & conclusion:Students with higher SOC scores had higher HPLP scores. Female students were more health conscious than male students. In general, college students in Chandigarh had a good health promoting lifestyle and good sense of coherence.

Comparison of Health-Promoting Lifestyles Between Postnatal Han Taiwanese and Indigenous Women

The health-promoting lifestyle of postpartum women is an important issue, but few studies have been undertaken to examine the role of cultural difference. The purpose of this study was to better understand the health-promoting lifestyles of postnatal mothers in Taiwan in terms of differences between ethnic Han Taiwanese and indigenous women and of factors predicting health-promoting lifestyles in the two groups. For this cross-sectional comparative study, data on postnatal health-promoting behaviors, as measured using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), were collected from 314 mothers during their sixth postpartum week. HPLP scores of ethnic Han Taiwanese mothers living in Kaohsiung City, and indigenous women living in Pingtung County were then compared. : Han Taiwanese and indigenous mothers differed significantly in terms of age, education, employment status, socioeconomic status, type of family, and primary postnatal helper. Han Taiwanese had better original scores in overall health-promoting lifestyle, self-actualization, stress management, nutrition, and interpersonal support. However, these differences did not achieve statistical significance when subjected to analysis of covariance. Indigenous participants had significantly higher scores in terms of health responsibility and exercise than Han Taiwanese women. Significant predictors of higher HPLP score in the Han Taiwanese group included employment status and breast-feeding, which together accounted for 8.2% of total variance. In the indigenous group, significant predictors of higher HPLP score included more years of education and middle socioeconomic status, which together accounted for 22.0% of total variance. Results showed significant differences in the health responsibility and exercise subscales and significant differences in key predictors between the Han Taiwanese and the indigenous groups. Findings support the role of culture as a significant factor affecting the health-promoting lifestyle of postnatal women in Taiwan. Nurses should be aware of cultural mores and influences when delivering healthcare to postpartum mothers of different ethnic groups to maximize postnatal care efficacy.

A health promotion programme in Adventist and non-Adventist women based on Pender's model: A pilot study

In the last decades, the epidemiological and demographic transition in Chile has resulted in a considerable increase in diet-related non-communicable chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a health promotion programme (HPP) on behaviour in terms of the dimensions of the health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) based on Pender's model. Pender based his research on the development of a model that explains, predicts and modifies forms of behaviour that promote health; an HPP based on this model may achieve positive changes that promote a healthy lifestyle. This was a comparative study and the participants were Seventh-Day Adventist Church women (SDAW) and non-Seventh-Day Adventist Church women (NSDAW) aged 20-45 years from the urban area of Villarrica, Ninth Region of Chile. From a population of 300 women (150 SDAW and 150 NSDAW), a random sample of 18 SDAW and 18 NSDAW was chosen. Both groups were comparable in age and socio-economic status. An HPP was undertaken for both groups between April and September 2002. The response rate was 100%. The overall score and the scores for the six dimensions of the HPLP (self-actualization, health responsibility, exercise, nutrition, interpersonal support and stress management) were measured in the pre- and post-test periods. Statistical analysis was performed using the Sign test and Wilcoxon's test. Data were processed using the statistical analysis system. In both groups, the median scores increased significantly between the pre- and post-test periods for the overall HPLP score and the scores of the six dimensions. When comparing the median scores in SDAW with NSDAW, only the score for nutrition was significantly higher in SDAW than NSDAW in both the pre-test (P<0.0001) and post-test (P<0.0005) periods. These findings demonstrate that an HPP based on Pender's model improves behaviour related to a health-promoting lifestyle in both groups, but more so for the NASDW.

Gender Differences in Health‐Promoting Lifestyles of African Americans

Despite progress in meeting Healthy People 2010 goals, African American (AA) men and women have higher mortality and morbidity rates as compared with Caucasian Americans. These may be attributed to lifestyle behaviors; however, this is a complex, multifactorial problem. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences among AA lifestyle behaviors. A descriptive comparative design was used. The sample consisted of 223 AAs residing in southeastern United States. The health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) was used to measure health-promoting behaviors. Independent t-test analysis revealed no statistically significant gender differences for total HPLP scores, t(220) = -1.49, p = 0.14. When controlling for income, education, and marital status, no significant interactions were seen with gender on HPLP. Independent t-test analyses revealed statistically significant differences for interpersonal relationship support, t(221) = -1.97, p = 0.05, health responsibility, t(214) = -2.46, p = 0.02, and nutrition t(219) = -3.27, p < 0.01, with women scoring higher than men. Although gender differences in AAs are evident for specific health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, these differences become less dominant when education and marital status were used as covariates.

Effects of multidisciplinary education on outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background & Aims: The impact of education on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not well known. This study evaluated the effect of a onetime group education program on patient-based outcomes in IBS. Methods: All adults referred by Mayo Clinic physicians to the Gastroenterology Division with a diagnosis of IBS between May 1997 and March 1998 were asked to participate. Questionnaires were administered at baseline and 6 months. Symptom resolution, change in pain severity, quality of life, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile score, overall patient satisfaction, and health care utilization were compared among those patients who attended the multidisciplinary class and those who did not. Results: Of the 506 patients approached, 403 (80%) agreed to participate. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed in 344 patients (85%) on chart review; 211 patients (61%) subsequently completed a follow-up questionnaire. Overall, 29% of class attendees who met Rome criteria for IBS at baseline no longer met Rome criteria at follow-up, compared with 7% of nonattendees. By multivariate analysis, class attendance predicted higher odds of not meeting Rome criteria at follow-up in individuals meeting Rome criteria at baseline (odds ratio, 7.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–64.41) than in nonattendees, but the opposite effect was seen with class attendance in those not meeting Rome criteria at baseline. This interaction between baseline Rome status and class attendance was significant ( P < 0.05). Class attendance was associated with improvement in Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile scores ( P < 0.05) but not with change in pain, quality of life, satisfaction, or health care utilization. Conclusions: A onetime, multidisciplinary class for patients with IBS was associated with improvement in symptoms and health-promoting lifestyle behavior.

Circulating leptin: a marker of health in female students.

We studied the relationship between serum leptin concentration and lifestyle factors in female nursing students. Serum leptin was estimated by radioimmunoassay and the correlation between these concentrations with serum lipids, physical fitness and Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile score was investigated. A total of 247 students took part in the study: mean age, 19.0 +/- 2.0 years; mean body mass index (BMI), 21.7 +/- 2.9 kg/m2; and mean serum leptin concentration, 10.8 +/- 11.5 ng/ml. Serum leptin was positively correlated with BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and serum triglyceride. Serum leptin level concentration inversely correlated with physical fitness score and lifestyle score. When the subjects were grouped according to BMI, the high-BMI group (BMI: > or = 24 kg/m2; n = 40) showed significantly lower fitness and lifestyle scores than the low-BMI group (BMI < or = 20 kg/m2; n = 70). Higher leptin, blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride were seen in high-BMI compared with low-BMI subjects. We suggest that leptin is a useful marker for monitoring good health and may be useful as a motivational aid towards achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Older people's knowledge and practice about lifestyle behaviors that may prevent vascular dementia

This study examined the relationship between knowledge and practice of healthy lifestyle behaviors in the prevention of vascular dementia. Data presented here are derived from a convenience sample of 296 participants recruited through senior citizen agencies in Australia. Lifestyle was measured using the Health-promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Seven knowledge subscales were developed, consistent with the HPLP. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Correlations among the lifestyle and knowledge indicated statistically significant results. However, the strength of these associations was generally weak. Multivariate analysis found that six variables explained 20% of the variance in the lifestyle score. These included: knowledge of interpersonal relations, knowledge of physical activity, medical knowledge, medical history, self-assessment of general health, and use of alcohol. The results indicate that knowledge, by itself, does not necessarily ensure that people engage in self-practising healthy lifestyle behaviors, and those who experience illness and, perhaps exposure to risk factors, had higher HPLP scores. Recommendations for how older people can be supported to reduce some of the attitudinal barriers that reduce healthy lifestyle behaviors are discussed.