Examining the effects of a one-semester health behavior course on college students' perception of wellness

College students have consistently been found to be involved in higher rates of risk behaviors that compromise their quality of life and wellness when compared to the general population. In light of this finding, institutions of higher learning are constantly confronted with various challenges in addressing prevention and overall student wellness. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a one-semester Behavioral Health course on students’ perception of health and wellness in college. The research explored if there is a difference in college students’ perception of wellness after taking Community Health Course 304, The Foundations of Health Behaviors among race and gender. The study population was undergraduate college students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, between the ages of 18-24, enrolled in this fall semester course. The pre- and post-survey data were analyzed using the Student’s t-test to determine if any significance changes had occurred in students (n=74) enrolled in the course. The t-test revealed significant results in each of the six constructs of Hettler’s, six dimension of wellness. This research concluded that factors of race and gender have a significant impact on the students’ perception of the dimensions of wellness.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Nesbitt, Matthew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Farner, Susan M.

• wellness
• health
• college-students
• six-dimensions

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Matthew Nesbitt

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31222

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/31222