Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to examine the factors related to children's health behavior. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out for 431 (boys; 227, girls; 204) children, 6th grade students, in Taegu from December 14 to 18 in 1998. This study employed health promotion model as a hypothetical model. Collected data were analysed through the chi-square test, ANOVA, and path analysis. RESULTS: By univariate analysis, in case of boys, health practice was related to perceived self efficacy, perceived health status, perceived benefits of health-promoting behaviors, and perceived barriers, and in girls, health practice was related to perceived self efficacy, perceived benefits of health-promoting behaviors, perceived barriers, and cues to action. By path analysis, in case of boys, the better economic status, the younger mothers' age, the higher score of family cohesion and adaptability, healthier, the more perceived benefits, and the less perceived barriers were, the more health behaviors were practiced. Girls did the more health practice, in case of living with parents only, the higher score of family cohesion and adaptability, the more perceived self-efficacy, the less perceived barriers, and the more cues to action. Family cohesion had the most important effect on health practice of primary school students. CONCLUSIONS: In order to promote health behavior of primary school students, a good family environment as well as health education might be very important. That is, we have to try together in home and as well as in school.

• Keywords: Primary school studentsHealth promotion modelHealth practice