Role-Modeling Perceptions and Health Behavior Patterns of College Students in Health-Related Majors

Abstract

Students seeking degrees in Health and Human Performance (HHP) at the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS) are provided a curriculum which focuses on health, fitness, and disease prevention. There is an expectation for those in health-related professions to role model the positive health behaviors that they promote. The purpose of this study was to assess if HHP majors at UWS perceive themselves as future role-models and if so were they engaging in the health behaviors that they are being taught in their college curriculum. This study also examined if this perception changed over time. This study used a survey containing three different content areas: socio-demographics, health behaviors, and role-modeling to gain understanding of student health behavior practices and role-modeling attitudes. Results of this study indicate that HHP majors are aware of the importance of role modeling, more so at the junior and senior grade level, and they are practicing the positive health behaviors that they feel are important to role-model.