Health behaviors and health risk awareness in Japanese and English students

Abstract

This study is to assess health behaviors and health risk awareness (i.e., knowledge) in university students of Japan (N = 631) and England (N = 707), using a standardized protocol suitable for translation and administration. A Japanese version of the inventory was basically adapted from The European Health and Behavior Survey (Wardle & Steptoe, 1991) which had evaluated diet-eating habits, positive health practices, preventive health care, driving behavior and substance use, and awareness about the influence of several behavioral risk factors including eating animal fat, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol, heredity and exercise and so on, on some major life style-related diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, lung cancer and breast cancer. Differences between Japanese and English students, as well as sex differences, were observed in a number of health behaviors. Generally, females were healthier than males in both countries, with the exception of sleeping time. The important gaps in health risk awareness were identified in students of both countries, as well as sex differences. It seems to be complex associations of health behavior prevalence and health risk awareness. These results confirmed prevalence findings on the associations among socio-cultural factors, health behaviors and health knowledge. This study suggests the importance of the planning of health education and primary prevention programs for positive health enhancement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).