ERIC Number: EJ787558
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
Stages of Change and Possible Selves: 2 Tools for Promoting College Health
Horneffer-Ginter, Karen
Journal of American College Health, v56 n4 p351-358 Jan-Feb 2008
When considering health promotion among college students, 2 questions that arise are how to (1) most effectively offer health initiatives and (2) motivate students to participate in these efforts. Objective: In responding to these questions, the author considered 2 health-promotion tools: the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves. Participants: There were 304 college students who participated in this study. Methods: To explore how such information can assist health-promotion planning by determining which behaviors to target and how to match interventions to the overall population's stage of change, the author had students report their stage of change for 6 health behaviors. In addition, to explore possible motivations for moving from the precontemplation to the preparation stage of change, the author had students generate future self-concepts regarding their health ("health-related possible selves"). Results: The number of illness-related possible selves cited was significantly related to stage of change for smoking and stress management. For smoking, precontemplators had the fewest number of illness-related possible selves; however, the author observed the opposite for stress management. Conclusion: The findings have implications for how the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves can serve as useful tools in promoting college health. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Stress Management, College Students, Health Promotion, Smoking, Health Behavior, Student Motivation, Behavior Theories, Behavior Modification, Intervention, Attitude Change, Behavior Change, Self Concept
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A