A Comparative Study on the Self-Efficacy and Health Promoting Behavior between Obese and Normal Weight Middle School Students

중학교 비만학생과 정상체중 학생의 자기효능감과 건강증진행위에 대한 비교연구

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the difference of the self-efficacy and the health promoting behaviors between obese and normal-weight middle school students. Method: Data were collected from a convenient sample of 360 middle school students (180 normal-weight students and 180 obese students) in Pusan from November 22nd to December 20th. 2000. based on self-report questionnaires. The following instruments were used in the study after being reconstructed by the researcher with the consultation of experts and the literature review: General Self Efficacy Scale(Sherer et al.. 1982). and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Walker. Sechrist & Pender. 1987). The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test. and t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: 1. There were significant differences in father's obesity (p=.014) mother's obesity (p= .007), sibling's obesity (p=.00l), and school record (p=.001) between obese and normal-weight students. 2. There were statistically significant differences in the score of self-efficacy between the obese and normal-weight students (p=.0001) 3. There were statistically significant differences in health promoting behavior (p= .000) and in six sub-i terns: personal relationship (p =.000), exercise (p=.001), responsibility for health (p=.003), stress management (p = .015), self-actualization (p =.043) between the obese and normal weight students. 4. There were very statistically significant negative correlations between obesity and the self-efficacy (r=-.19. p<.001), health promoting behavior (r=-.18. p<.001), specifically personal relationship(r=-.20. p<.001), stress management (r=-.12. p<.05), responsibility for health (r=-.15. p<.01), and self-actualization (r=-.14. p<.01). Conclusion: According to the above results it is concluded that self-efficacy and health promoting behavior influence the obesity of middle school students. Therefore I recommend adding programs that can lead to improve self-efficacy and health promoting behavior to the obesity prevention programs for middle school students.