[Structural equation model for the health behaviors of university students in Korea].
OBJECTIVE
A structural equation model was analysed to explore the determinants of health behaviors of university students in Korea.


METHODS
Nine hundred sixty nine university students were selected by random cluster sampling from five universities located in the central area of Korea.


METHODS
The data was collected by questionnaires about demographic characteristics, stressful life events, perceived social support, perceived health status and health behaviors.


RESULTS
1. Gender showed indirect effect on health behaviors. 2. Living together with(out) family had a direct effect on health behaviors: students living with family showed more positive health behaviors. 3. Stressful life events had an indirect effect on health behaviors via perceived health status; a higher score of stressful life events was the predictor for negative health behaviors. 4. A higher score of perceived health status predicted positive health behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
Each university should be encouraged to develop a health behavior control program and health promotion program for their own university students. It would be more effective to develop health programs separately according to the demographic or social characteristics of the students. It is also necessary for the Ministry of Education to reform the School Health Act and school health policy to strengthen a health promotion program for university students. In conclusion, following studies should identify and promote the validity and reliability of perceived health status and health behaviors measurements.
Yi
Sung Eun
SE
Department of Nursing, Kwandong University, Gangwondo 210-701, Korea. yisungeun@hanmail.net
Oh
Kasil
K
Park
Young-Joo
YJ
Kim
Jeongah
J
Kim
Hee Soon
HS
Oh
Kyoungok
K
Lee
Sook Ja
SJ
Jun
Hoa Yun
HY
Chung
Chooja
C
Choi
Sangsoon
S
Kang
Hyun Chul
HC
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities