Repercussions of Perceptions and Attitudes Related the COVID-19 on Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Young Adults

Authors : Adem Sümen, Aysun Ünal, Gamze Yavaş
Pages : 19-28
Doi:10.54061/jphn.1377578
View : 65 | Download : 66
Publication Date : 2024-04-30
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of young adult individuals’ perception of disease (PD), perception of causes (PC), perception of control (PCL), and avoidance behaviors (AB) related to the COVID-19 pandemic on their healthy lifestyle behaviors. Methods: The study was carried out with a cross-sectional, correlational design at a university in the south of Turkey. The research was conducted online and completed with 786 young adults aged 18-24. The study data were collected using a socio-demographic form, the Scale for Evaluating Perceptions and Attitudes towards the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Results: A moderate positive correlation was found between the mean HPLP total scores of the young adults and their mean scores for PC-Environmental, PCL, and PCL-Individual (p<.05). The perception of disease in young adults had a positive effect on their healthy lifestyle behaviors (β=0.179), avoidance behavior positively affected their healthy lifestyle behaviors (β=0.279) and perception of control had a positive effect on their healthy lifestyle behaviors (β=0.424) (p<.05). Conclusion: Young adults with a high perception of disease, perception of causes, perception of control, and belief in avoidance behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic exhibited positive healthy lifestyle behaviors during the pandemic process. For the creation of a healthy society following pandemics or other public health events, young adults\' healthy lifestyle behaviors need to become a way of life and be sustained. Healthcare professionals have a very important place in supporting increasing healthy lifestyle behaviors and encouraging/regaining decreasing behaviors.
Keywords : Algı, COVID 19, genç yetişkin, sağlıklı yaşam biçimi davranışları, tutum

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