Health-Promoting Lifestyle of Junior High School Students

Abstract

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or infirmity. It encompasses various aspects, including physical fitness, emotional balance, and social connections. Good health allows individuals to accomplish their academic tasks efficiently. With the pandemic disrupting physical activities of students, their movements became limited which can affect their lifestyle and wellbeing. This study determined the health-promoting lifestyle of the respondents in time of pandemic.

The employed quantitative descriptive-correlational research design, gathering data from 138 Junior High School students enrolled at Union Christian College during the school year 2021-2022 using an online survey questionnaire. Weighted mean was used to describe their health-promoting practices. Frequency count and percentage was used to present the body mass index of the respondents. Chi square test was used to determine the relationship between the variables.

The researchers found that the respondents have good health promoting lifestyle but not in an optimal level. Their lifestyle along interpersonal relation, nutrition, stress management, and spiritual growth are in good condition considering the current pandemic situation. However, their health responsibility and physical activity are in moderate condition which can be attributed to lowered physical engagement during the pandemic. There are more respondents who belong to the underweight BMI category which is followed by those under normal categories. Their overall health-promoting lifestyle and health responsibility is significantly related to their BMI which means that their way of life is connected to their health index.

The findings suggest that the respondents are able to maintain good health-promoting lifestyle but needs to be enhance to reach optimal level, most importantly their health responsibility and physical activity. The researchers recommend that respondents need to maintain and promote healthy lifestyles to optimize well-being.