The Health Belief Model was used to study HIV/AIDS beliefs of 419, 18 to 24 year old, never married, sexually active, heterosexual college students and predict their AIDS preventive behaviors from a larger sample of 662 college students. The structural properties of the scales used were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Recent preventive behaviors were predicted in a LISREL Structural Equation Modeling analysis.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences. / Department of Communication

Thesis (MCur.) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The purpose of this study was to determine the experiences of students in disclosing their HIV-positive status at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus. A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological design was used to explore, describe, and understand the experiences of the students with regard to the disclosure of their HIV-positive status. A group of 20 students who belonged to the support group were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection until saturation was reached. Data analysis was conducted according to Techs open-coding method. The study highlights the potential factors that might hinder access to HIV prevention, management, care, and support programmes. The findings reveal that there is a marked societal shift in the perception and understanding of HIV, resulting in disclosure being a less difficult responsibility. However, rejection by sexual partners has also been revealed. This rejection is one of the negative consequences that might hamper future disclosure. It is recommended that counsellors should be highly skilled in counselling HIV-positive people, especially about issues of disclosure. An HIV disclosure model will greatly support the work of these counsellors.

This study was divided into three stages. The first phase of the study aimed to examine factors influencing the students' participation in physical activity. Eight female and male university students participated in the focus group. It was found that the participants' perceived benefits of physical activity were physical, psychological and social. Their perceived barriers to physical activity included both internal and external factors. Peer groups and family were found to be influential factors in the participants' decision to engage in physical activity. The second phase was designed to investigate 1,464 Thai university students' stages of change based on the Transtheoretical model (TTM) in relation to physical activity behavior. Regarding the stages of change, 19.6% of the participants were in the Precontemplation stage, 21.8% in the Contemplation stage, 44.2% in the Preparation stage, 8.9% in the Action stage, and 5.5% in the Maintenance stage. The majority of participants' BMI statuses were normal. There were significant differences in response according to gender and BMI status, gender and stages of change, and BMI status and stages of change. The third study used a pre-post randomized control group design to determine the effectiveness of the TTM-based intervention in improving physical activity behavior among university students. 210 freshman students, who classified in Precontemplation, Contemplation and Preparation stages, were randomly assigned to either experiment or control groups in each stage. The students in the experimental group received an eight-week stage-matched intervention, while the students in the control group participated in physical education activity classes. At the follow-up stage, the students in the experiment group significantly improved their scores compared to the baseline in all of the study variables (Stages of Change, Self-Efficacy, Pros, Cons, and Experiential and Behavioral Processes of Change). It was also found that students in the experimental group had higher improvement in Stages of Change, Self- Efficacy, Pros, Experiential and Behavioral Processes of Change, and perceived fewer Cons to physical activity. There were significant differences found in Processes of Change and Physical Activity Levels across Stages of Change, but not in other variables. The results of this study indicated that stage-matched intervention can be an effective means of increasing participation in physical activity among university students. / Graduation date: 2006

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published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Food insecurity is a global issue giving rise to health inequities affecting populations at all life stages. Postsecondary student food insecurity exists, yet is an understudied phenomenon. To provide insight into the perspectives and experiences of food insecurity in the postsecondary population, university students (n=15) who accessed a campus food bank were interviewed utilizing person-centered interviewing. The social determinants of health (SDH) and structural violence theory provided conceptual guidance for the qualitative study. Students were found to lead complex lives, shouldering many responsibilities. They valued their health; however, they lacked the necessary supports to maintain adequate nutritional intake. They employed multiple strategies to mitigate their food insecurity issues, while concurrently making sacrifices and experiencing suffering. Three economic pathways leading students to food bank use included shortfall, cumulative and catastrophic pathways. This research offers increased understanding of food insecurity in this vulnerable population, exposing inequities which must be addressed. Keywords: / xi, 304 leaves ; 29 cm

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between person-environment fit (P-E fit) and health behavior in residence hall students, in order to better understand the effects of an environment on health behavior. Students living in the six wellness residence halls on the campus of Ball State University were asked to participate by filling out two questionnaires as part of a health screening. Participants completed 113 University Residence Environment Scale (URES), real and ideal form, questionnaires and 210 Healthier People health risk appraisal (HRA) questionnaires. Sixty-nine complete sets of data were used in this study. Pearson r correlation coefficients for the 10 URES subscale scores, a total P-E fit score, and health risk were used to examine the relationships between P-E fit and health behavior. Correlations of statistical significance were not found. From the results of this study, a relationship between P-E fit and health behavior is not supported. Further study is recommended. / Institute for Wellness

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between student-environment fit and physical self-efficacy among female undergraduate students living in the Trane and Tichenor wellness residence halls at Ball State University. This study examined the following questions: 1) What is the degree of fit experienced by female students living in the Trane and Tichenor wellness residence halls?, and 2) Is there a relationship between student-environment fit and physical self-efficacy? Student-environment fit is necessary for a student's happiness, satisfaction, and achievement. Physical self-efficacy is an important component of positive self-concept and has been correlated with the healthy development of an individual. Data on student-environment fit was collected using the University Residence Environment Scale. The Physical Self-Efficacy Scale was used to collect data on the students' perceptions of their physical ability and self-presentation confidence. Statistical analysis of the data revealed: 1) significant t-scores for the degree of fit experienced by female students in Trane and Tichenor wellness residence halls, and 2) a significant correlation between the total student-environment fit score and the total physical self-efficacy score as well as a significant correlation for the URES subscales of Academic Achievement and Intellectuality with the total physical self-efficacy score. / Department of Home Economics

A limited amount of research has been conducted on college students' physical activity levels. According to the 1996 Surgeon General's Report, only one fourth of young adults regularly exercise vigorously. Therefore, there is a need to develop effective exercise intervention programs for young adult populations. There has been no previous research using the variables of outcome expectancy value, exercise role identity, and self-regulation skills. The purpose of the study was to describe the relationship among self-regulation skills, outcome expectancy value, and exercise role identity as predictors of exercise levels. Subjects (n=1 83) represented a convenient sample of students from Personal Health classes at Ball State University. All subjects completed a four-part questionnaire divided into: self-regulation, outcome expectancy value, exercise role identity, and seven day recall. Results revealed that selfregulation and exercise role identity were predictors of vigorous activity, but not moderate activity. Outcome expectancy value was not significantly correlated with any of the dependent variables, except for male vigorous days. This study further support self-regulation and exercise role identity as predictors of physical activity. / Department of Physiology and Health Science