Factors Affecting Health-Promoting Behaviors among Vietnamese Students in Korea

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine health-promoting behaviors among Vietnamese students in Korea and identify the factors affecting these behaviors.

Methods: A survey using self-administered questionnaires was employed. Data were collected between October 2020 and May 2021 from 260 Vietnamese students whose stay in Korea has been for longer than six months and who agreed to participate in the study. Variables included health-promoting behaviors (physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and health risk behavior), self-esteem, acculturative stress, and social support. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the factors that might influence health-promoting behaviors.

Results: Of the total participants, 56.9% were women, and the mean age was 24.60±2.58 years. The mean score of the participants on total health-promoting behaviors was 2.64±0.36, on self-esteem 2.96±0.35, on acculturative stress 2.39±0.15, and on social support 2.53±0.24. Self-esteem, acculturative stress, social support, length of stay in Korea, and education level were found to affect health-promoting behaviors, and these variables explained 76.2% of the variance.

Conclusion: There is a need to develop intervention strategies for promoting self-esteem and social support programs and coping strategies for managing acculturative stress to increase health-promoting behaviors among Vietnamese students.