Modelling knowledge, health beliefs, and health-promoting behaviours related to cardiovascular disease prevention among Malaysian university students

Background Healthy lifestyle habits formed during young adulthood may have a sustaining impact on health across later life. The current study aimed to test the theoretical model of factors (selected demographic variables, knowledge of heart disease, health belief related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), self-efficacy, cues to action, and screening intention) influencing health-promoting behaviours among Malaysian university students. Methods In a cross-sectional survey, the undergraduate students in Universiti Sains Malaysia were invited to complete the self-administered questionnaires. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling method. The proposed hypothesised model was analysed using a structural equation modelling with Mplus 7.3 program. A total of 788 (70.7% female) undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.2 (SD = 1.02) participated in the study. The primary outcome of knowledge, health beliefs, and health-promoting behaviours related to CVD were measured by questionnaires namely: Knowledge of Heart Disease, Health Beliefs Related to CVD, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profiles-II. Results The final hypothetical structural model showed a good fit to the data based on several fit indices: with comparative fit index (CFI) at .921, standardised root mean square residual (SRMR) at .037, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) at .044 (90% CI: .032, .054). The final structural model supported 13 significant path estimates. These variables explained 12% of the total variance in health-promoting behaviours. Through perceived benefits, total knowledge had an indirect effect on health-promoting behaviours. Conclusion The results suggest that perceived barriers, perceived benefits, family history of CVD, and screening intention enable young adults to engage in health-promoting behaviours.

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Prevalence, risk awareness and health beliefs of behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular disease among university students in nine ASEAN countries

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-018-5142-1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Karl Peltzer ◽

Supa Pengpid

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

University Students ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Risk Awareness ◽

Behavioural Risk Factors ◽

Asean Countries

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Psychometric Properties of the Decisional Balance Scale: A Confirmatory Study on Malaysian University Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17082748 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 2748

Author(s):

Kien Ting Liu ◽

Yee Cheng Kueh ◽

Wan Nor Arifin ◽

Mohd Ismail Ibrahim ◽

Mohd Nazri Shafei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

University Students ◽

Root Mean Square ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Measurement Model ◽

Decisional Balance ◽

Model Fit ◽

Mean Square ◽

Barriers To Exercise ◽

Two Factors

Decisional balance (DB) is the perceived positive aspects (advantages) and negative aspects (disadvantages) that are associated with behavioural change. Behavioural change is dependent on an individual’s thoughts after considering the advantages of engaging in exercise. When the benefits exceed the barriers, people are more likely to make changes after cognitively evaluating the functional aspects. The purpose of the present study is to determine the validity and reliability of the DB scale among Malaysian university students using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A cross-sectional study was carried out among students who took part in the co-curricular program. By using the purposive sampling method, students were recruited and given written informed consent forms after acknowledging they understood the purpose of the study. The DB scale, which consists of two factors, namely, advantages and disadvantages, was used as the instrument in the study. The advantages referred to the benefits of participating in exercise, whereas the disadvantages referred to the barriers to exercise. The 10-item, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to participating students. Data were analysed using Mplus 8 for the CFA. A total of 562 students (females = 444, males = 118) with a mean age of 19.81 years (SD = 1.22) participated in the study. Most of the students were engaged in regular physical activity for at least three exercise sessions (mean = 2.62) per week, and the average duration per session was 43 minutes. The hypothesised measurement model of DB did not fit the data well; thus, the measurement model was re-specified. The final measurement model fit the data well (comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.960, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.943, standardised root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.055, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) (90% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.061 (0.047, 0.074), RMSEA p-value = 0.096). The composite reliability values of 0.757 for the advantages and 0.792 for the disadvantages were acceptable. The 10-item DB scale with two factors displayed a good model fit for the data with good scale reliability. This could be beneficial for Malaysian undergraduate students in making decisions before engaging in physical activity. The benefits of, and barriers to, exercise could be an important component that affects their decision making.

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A Structural Model of Adverse Childhood Experiences as Antecedents of Rumination Leading to Lower Hope

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519868195 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051986819

Author(s):

Ricky T. Muñoz ◽

Heather Hanks

Keyword(s):

Root Mean Square ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Structural Model ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Mean Square ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Root Mean Square Residual ◽

Psychology Literature

Hope is well established within the positive psychology literature as a construct associated with psychological well-being. Recent research has also linked experiences of childhood trauma with lower hope into adulthood. Snyder’s hope theory explains this link by suggesting that rumination, as a byproduct of trauma, limits survivors’ ability to focus on present day goals, thereby lowering hope. To test this proposed link between childhood trauma and lower hope, we conducted two studies using independent samples of adults living in the United States (Study 1: N’ = 258; Study 2: N’ = 374). Per Snyder, the studies modeled childhood trauma as a driver of rumination leading to lower hope. The results of Study 1 indicated that a “full mediation” model, directly representing Snyder’s theory, produced good fit ( χ2 = 254.02, p > .001; df = 131); root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) = .06 (90% confidence interval [CI]: .049, .072); standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = .055; comparative fit index (CFI): .927. A subsequent bootstrapping analysis ( N = 5,000) validated the full mediation model. Study 2 provided identical results, indicating again that a full mediation model of the variables produced good fit. The data from both studies was consistent with Snyder’s understanding of the link between trauma and lower hope. The article concludes with a discussion of the studies’ implications, particularly how the data supports interventions, such as meditation, that may work to help buffer the ruminating impacts of childhood trauma.

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Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for Ecuadorian University Students (EVS-EUE)

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031087 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1087

Author(s):

Mario Alvarez-Alvarez ◽

Ricardo de la Vega-Marcos ◽

Ruth Jiménez-Castuera ◽

Marta Leyton-Román

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Root Mean Square ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Healthy Lifestyles ◽

Mean Square ◽

Lifestyle Questionnaire ◽

Fit Index

University students are considered a key population in promoting and establishing healthy lifestyles that will ensure a full life for the next generations. The purpose of this study was to do a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for Ecuadorian university students (EVS-EUE). Two thousand, one hundred and eight (2108) students from 17 to 19 years old (27%), 20 to 24 years old (57%), and over 24 years old (16%) participated (M = 21.81 years; SD = 3.04). A confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency analysis, and concurrent validity were conducted. The results of the EVS-EUE Questionnaire presented adequate values (χ2/d.f = 9.02, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.96, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.96, McDonald Fit Index (MFI) = 0.91, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) = 0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.03). The internal consistency showed values above 0.70, and analyzed its concurrent validity, reaching adequate values. This study has provided a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate healthy lifestyles in the Ecuadorian population.

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Validity and reliability of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) among university students of Bangladesh

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261590 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0261590

Author(s):

Tahia Anan Dhira ◽

Mahir A. Rahman ◽

Abdur Razzaque Sarker ◽

Jeenat Mehareen

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

University Students ◽

Root Mean Square ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Patient Health Questionnaire ◽

Mean Square ◽

Health Questionnaire ◽

Patient Health ◽

Fit Index

This study investigated the reliability and factorial validity of General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) in the context of university students in Bangladesh. The research aimed to assess whether the original one-dimensional model or a model containing both somatic and cognitive-emotional factors is appropriate. A repeated cross-sectional survey design based on convenience sampling was used to collect data from 677 university students. The factor structure of the GAD-7 was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and its convergent validity was determined by investigating its correlations with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Results showed excellent reliability of GAD-7 as measured by Cronbach’s α. CFA suggested that a modified one-factor model is appropriate for the sample. This model provided high values of comparative fit index (CFI), goodness of fit index (GFI), and Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), low value of standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) and a non-significant root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). Correlation between GAD-7 and PHQ-9 was 0.751 and 0.934 between GAD-7 and PHQ-ADS. Overall, the study provided support for modified unidimensional structure for GAD-7 and showed high internal consistency along with good convergent validity.

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The Structural Equation Model of Intention to Discontinue Drinking Highly Caffeinated Beverage of Undergraduate Students

Child Health Nursing Research ◽

10.4094/chnr.2020.26.1.35 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 35-46

Author(s):

Kyu Eun Lee ◽

Yunsoo Kim

Keyword(s):

Root Mean Square ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Goodness Of Fit ◽

Health Belief ◽

Equation Model ◽

Mean Square ◽

Beverage Consumption ◽

Root Mean Square Residual ◽

Fit Index

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test a model for intention to discontinuation drinking high caffeinated beverages among undergraduate students. This model was based on the Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior and Becker’s health belief model.Methods: Participants consisted of 201 undergraduate students. Data were collected by questionnaires from March 11 to May 24, 2019. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 22.0, AMOS 22.0 program.Results: The assessment of the model indicated an acceptable fit (normed x<sup>2</sup>=1.65, goodness-of-fit index [GFI]=.83, adjusted GFI=.79, comparative fit index [CFI]=.92, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR]=.05, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI]=.91, normed fit index [NFI]=.87, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA]=.07). Perceived behavior control, subjective norm, the subjective attitude was found to have a significant direct effect on the intention to discontinuation of drinking a high caffeinated beverage. The variances of this model explained 45.3% of the variance in intention to discontinuation of drinking a high caffeinated beverage.Conclusion: These results suggest that a need to increase awareness of adverse effects and potential risks of high caffeinated beverage consumption in undergraduate students. Besides, the university and government should provide education and campaigns to prevent excessive high-caffeinated beverage consumption.

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