Predicting healthy lifestyle success in the college environment using the transtheoretical model

Abstract

Background: Research was conducted among college students to explore strategies of health intervention development that may better target and promote healthy lifestyles in the college environment, helping to fight overweight and obesity in the U.S. Objective: To investigate if a correlation exists between Transtheoretical Model (TTM) stages of change in regards to a personal health goal and the self-reported frequencies of healthy eating and exercise among a college student sample. Hypotheses: Participants that are in more advanced stages of readiness to change according to the TTM may state that they follow healthy eating/exercise habits more often which can enable them to achieve more personal goal success. Methods: The researcher-designed health-related survey was administered to college students, obtaining a sample of 634 student responses. Data was analyzed using SPSS and Ordinal Logistic Regression. The independent variables of stage of change, gender, education, and living situation, are compared with frequency of healthy eating and exercise methods. Results: Statistical significance was found among the results (Tables 1 & 2). Those in the maintenance stage are more likely to report more frequent healthy eating and exercise practices compared to other stages (p <0.001). Conclusion: Healthy lifestyle success may be predicted by the report of maintenance stage or advancement towards maintenance stage of change regarding a health goal due to its correlation with healthy eating and exercise frequency. Programs promoting the TTM stage of change advancement for more personal goal success can contribute to more frequent healthy eating and exercise habits, which can lead to healthier lifestyles in the college environment.