The Relationship Between Self-efficacy and Health-Promoting Lifestyle in Students

Introduction: Health-promoting lifestyle is an important determinant of health status and has been identified as a major factor in maintaining and promoting health. Self-efficacy is a psychosocial factor that promotes health. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and healthpromoting lifestyles in students. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional analysis. The research population included all students studying at universities in Zanjan City, Iran. The sampling is done by census method at the University of Medical Sciences, and cluster random method at non-medical universities among senior students who entered the study if they wish to participate. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaires, generalized self-efficacy scale, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile 2 (HPLPII). The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation coefficient test, and linear regression analysis. Results: A total of 1103 students participated in this study, with a Mean±SD self-efficacy of 41.82± 9.76, and a mean±SD health-promoting lifestyle of 2.53±0.40. The Pearson correlation coefficient test was a significant relationship between self-efficacy and healthpromoting lifestyle (r=0.081, P=0.007), and its three subgroups included nutritional habits (r=0.082, P=0.006), spiritual growth (r=0.070, P=0.019), and interpersonal communication (r=0.073, P=0.016), and the three subgroups of stress management, physical activity, and health responsibility were not significantly associated with self-efficacy. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed self-efficacy (β=0.003, CI95%: 0.001-0.006, P=0.006), age (β=0.007, CI95%:0.001-0.014, P=0.033), and gender (β=0.050, CI95%= 0.001-0.100, p=0.046), respectively, and was associated with a health-promoting lifestyle. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, there was a very weak relationship between self-efficacy, health-promoting lifestyle, and self-efficacy as a poor predictor of healthpromoting lifestyle in students.