Perception of a Peer Health Coaching Intervention Among College Students: Client Experience

ABSTRACT

Background

As health coaching is becoming more popular as a health promotion intervention tool, there is a lack of empirical evidence to understand the clients’ experience in the peer health coaching program among college students.

Purpose

This qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of the health coaching clients following an 8-week peer health coaching intervention in college.

Method

A total of 14 student clients (female, n = 9, 57% White) from the health coaching program participated in the focus group, following an 8-week peer health coaching program. The semi-structured focus group guide was developed to understand their experience.

Results

Clients’ positive experience in the health coaching program contributed to transformative outcomes, including behavioral outcomes and goal achievement, well-being and personal growth, and self-empowerment, with the coaching relationship mediating the relationship and the coaching modality moderating the relationship.

Discussion

The health coaching experience facilitated lifestyle changes, helped clients gain self-efficacy and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing and provided an overall caring, enjoyable, supportive experience. The bonding with the peer health coaches provided important social support for the student clients.

Translation to Health Education Practice

A peer health coaching program can be a cost-effective option for health promotion on college campuses.

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Catalyst Fund at Merrimack College under Grant Number [10-1428-D011].