Health behaviour of students versus a sense of self-efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
A sense of self-efficacy has become such an important construct in recent years that it has been included in most behaviour theories. Self-efficacy turned out to be very strong conditioning for health in a lot of research. The general influence of self-efficacy on health behaviour exceeds the influence of any other single variable. The feeling of self-efficacy allows to predict the intentions of actions in different spheres of human activity, including health behaviour. A higher sense of self-efficacy increases motivation for action, it is related to greater achievements of an individual and his/her better health. The aim of the research was to diagnose health behaviour of college students, to evaluate their sense of self-efficacy and to specify the relation between health behaviour presented by the participants and their sense of self-efficacy.


METHODS
The research was conducted using the method of diagnostic questionnaire with the following instruments: Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale--GSES R. Schwarzer, M. Jerusalem, the Questionnaire of Health Behaviour designed by one of the authors, and the measurement of BMI. The results from a group of 164 students enrolled in year 1 of bachelor of nursing programme from Kraków and Bielsko-Biała were statistically analyzed by using the chi-square test.


RESULTS
The conducted study confirmed the hypothesis about the relation between self-efficacy and health behaviour only partly. A statistically significant influence of the sense of self-efficacy on such health behaviour as the consumption of fat in daily diet and drinking alcohol was revealed. Most students participating in the study achieved a high indicator of the sense of self-efficacy and presented both right and wrong health behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
The sense of self-efficacy of the participants is a promising and positive indicator presaging the sustainability and change of health behaviour.
Zalewska-Puchała
J
J
Technical Humanistic Academy, Bielsko-Biała, Department of Health Sciences, Poland. joannapuch1@interia.pl
Majda
A
A
Gałuszka
A
A
Kolonko
J
J
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires