Exploration of the midwifery students' health-promoting lifestyle behaviors according to their body mass indexes and body perceptions

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the health-promoting lifestyle behaviors of midwifery students according to their body mass indexes and body perceptions. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 239 midwifery students at a state university between May and June 2023. Research data were collected using the personal information form, Body Cathexis-Self Cathexis Scale (BC-SCS), and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). It was determined that the differences between the HPLP and the subscales of interpersonal support, nutrition, and self-actualization were statistically significant according to the students' body perceptions (p<0.05). Students who perceived themselves as slim have higher HPLP and self-actualization mean scores than those who perceived themselves as fat, and it was determined that they have a higher nutrition mean score than those who perceived them as having normal weight. It was determined that the Interpersonal Support mean score of those who perceived themselves as fat was lower. When the mean scores of the students from the HPLP were compared according to their BMI, it was determined that the differences between HPLP and the subscales of interpersonal support, health responsibility, stress management, and self-actualization are statistically significant (p<0.05). According to the research, it is seen that the distribution of healthy lifestyles differs between the body perceptions of midwifery students and their Body Mass Indexes (BMI).