Role of exercise stages in self-reported health-promoting behaviors of a group of Turkish adolescents at transition to university

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-perceived health-promoting behaviors with respect to exercise stages of Turkish adolescents at transition from high school to university. Participants were 358 adolescents (192 boys, 166 girls) who were accepted to a research university for undergraduate education. The Adolescent Health Promotion Scale was used to examine Nutrition, Health Responsibility, Life Appreciation, Social Support, Exercise and Stress Management behaviors. Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire was used to examine the exercise stages of change. Scores were lowest for Exercise and highest for Life Appreciation regardless of exercise stage. All health-promoting behaviors differed by exercise stage. Participants at lower exercise stages had lower scores. Interventions should focus on increasing physical activity of physically inactive adolescents for holistic development of all health-promoting behaviors.