Health Educator Believability and College Student Self-rated Health

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the self-rated health (SRH) status among college students who reported receiving the majority of their health-related information from health educators. Participants: Students (n = 49,921) who completed the 2006 National College Health Association survey. Methods: Bivariate associations between SRH and the believability of health information received were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression tested the relationship after covariate adjustment. Results: Although a modest correlation (r = .06, p < .0001) existed between the variables, SRH declined as the believability of health information received from health educators ratings became increasingly unfavorable (χ² = 110.96, p < .0001). After covariate adjustment, the relationship persisted with increased odds of reporting fair/poor health for those who reported the health information received from health educators as “neutral” (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31) or “unbelievable” (OR = 2.25) when compared to those who reported the health information received as “believable” (p < .0001). Conclusions: The field of health education, and health educators, may positively influence college student SRH.

Keywords:

• college students
• health education
• health educators
• self-rated health