Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2003

Thesis Director

Jill D. Owen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare college age students' knowledge about wellness to their physical activity and nutrition attitudes and behaviors. This study tested the knowledge of 202 college age students at Eastern Illinois University and gathered data on their physical activity and nutrition attitudes and behaviors. A modified Wellness Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior Instrument (WKABI) questionnaire was used for data collection (Dinger, 1994). The main focus of the study was to relate the score on the knowledge test to the score on the attitude survey and to the score on the behavior survey. Subgroup comparisons by major and gender were also conducted. Students were grouped into two groups for comparison, wellness majors (WM) which included physical education, health, and nutrition/dietetics majors (n=95) and secondly all other majors (OM), (n=107). It was hypothesized that students who scored higher on the knowledge test would also score higher on the behavior scale and attitude scale. It was further hypothesized that WM students would not demonstrate healthier lifestyle behaviors than OM students. The third hypothesis stated that gender would cause no difference in knowledge, behavior, or attitude scores.

Correlation analysis showed a significant, but low relationship (significant at the .01 level) between knowledge score and attitude score (r = .44), knowledge score and behavior score (r = .36), and attitude score and behavior score (r = .46). Therefore, hypothesis one was supported by results.

WM scored significantly higher on the knowledge test, the attitude survey, and the behavior survey. Consequently, hypothesis two was not supported, as WM had a higher behavior score than OM.

Simple t-test analysis showed that there were no significant differences found between males' and females' knowledge scores or behavior scores. However, there was a significant difference (p = .029) in attitude scores with females (n=120) having a higher score than males (n=82). Hence, hypothesis three was not fully supported.

This study showed positive relationships between wellness knowledge and actual physical activity and nutrition attitudes and behaviors. Further findings supported the positive effect of education as those in the WM scored higher on all three scales (knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors) than did the OM group. Gender did not play a role in knowledge or behaviors; however, the female subjects had a slightly more positive attitude score. These results show that wellness education had a positive influence on the attitudes and behaviors of college age students.

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