SOME ASPECTS OF BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF ADOLESCENTS STUDYING AT SCHOOL
Introduction. Engagement of adolescents in health-promoting behaviour requires creating favourable conditions to shape their personal desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle and recognise their own health as the greatest value. Organising an intervention system which changes adolescents’ beliefs in o...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
State Institution of Science «Research and Practical Center of Preventive and Clinical Medicine» State Administrative Department
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Клінічна та профілактична медицина |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cp-medical.com/index.php/journal/article/view/584 |
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| Summary: | Introduction. Engagement of adolescents in health-promoting behaviour requires creating favourable conditions to shape their personal desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle and recognise their own health as the greatest value. Organising an intervention system which changes adolescents’ beliefs in order to modify their lifestyle requires information about the current situation regarding their knowledge about health, beliefs in the necessity of health-preserving skills, and the behaviour they practice every day.
Aim. To investigate and identify differences between adolescents' awareness of a healthy lifestyle, their beliefs about its necessity, and their actual behaviour; to determine the need for health promotion considering priority sources of information.
Materials and methods. The research materials included the results of an anonymous survey of 206 students from secondary education institutions using a specially designed questionnaire. During the study the following methods were used: sociological; medical and statistical; generalization.
Results. It was found that the existing knowledge and beliefs of adolescents do not correspond to their actual behaviour. Despite high levels of belief in the importance of healthy lifestyle components, the surveyed students do not follow recommendations regarding rational nutrition and sleep. The questionnaire established the prevalence of certain harmful habits among the surveyed people at school: alcohol consumption (23.4 %) and nicotine products use (12.7 %). The most prioritized (56.3 %) and reliable (85.4 %) source of information about health and a healthy lifestyle for students is doctors.
Conclusions. The formation of health promotion measures among adolescents requires the participation of three components: acquiring reliable knowledge about the components of a healthy lifestyle; strengthening beliefs about the necessity of adhering to them; and using health-enhancing life skills in real behaviour. However, the effectiveness of such interventions is possible only if the desires and expectations of the adolescents themselves are taken into account. |
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| ISSN: | 2616-4868 |