Evaluation of the self-efficacy perception and healty lifestyle behaviors of the postgraduate students in Çukurova Univercity

Aim: Evaluation of the Self-Efficacy Perception and Healty Lifestyle Behaviours and determining the affecting parameters of the postgraduate students. Material and Method: The sample was 430 postgraduate students of the Cukurova University. Data were collected by face-to-face interview technique and e-mail by completion of an anonymous sociodemographic questionnaire, Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP)-II scale and Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: Of the samples 338 (78.6%) out of 430 students was responded. Of students, 48,5 % (n=164)were female.The mean age was 32, 6±5,2 years.The total score of HPLP-II scale was 129.3±18.3, the highest score was in spiritual growth subscale and the lowest one was in physical activity subscale. Male students had higher scores than female students in HPLP total scale. Male students had higher scores in physical activity subscale whereas females had higher scores in nutrition and healthy responsibility subscales. The mean score of health sciences postgraduate students was lower than those of all subgroups and other institutes. The mean scores of the students whose perceptions for their health status "excellent" were higher HPLP-II scores. The mean Self –Efficacy score was 57.6 ± 7.0 and it was moderate. A significant relationship was found between willingness to complete the behaviour and ability to deal with others effectively evaluated Self-Efficacy Scale according to health perception.A moderate and a significant positive correlation was found between physical activity with stress management and spiruality with interpersonal relationships subgroups. It was found to the subgroup of health responsibility was affected by the rate of % 61.8 from nutrition, physical activity, ability to deal with others effectively and to choose from non-smoking environment; the subgroup of spiruality was affected by the rate of %77,2 from gender, interpersonal relationships, stress management, willingness to complete the behaviour, ability to deal with others effectively ; the subgroup of interpersonal relationship was affected by the rate of %66,7 from spiruality, physical activity,willingness to initiate behaviour and take precautions to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases; the subgroup of stress management was affected by rate of %57,5 from body mass index, spiruality, persistence in the face of adversity parameters. Conclusion: As high educated members of the society, the healthy lifestyle behaviors of postgraduate students were not seen at the expected levels. Further action plan should be prepared taking into account of the parameters that affect young adults healthy lifestyle behaviors. Key words: postgraduate students, self efficacy, healthy life styles