Application of Pender's Health Promotion Model to Predict Physical Activity Among Female School Students in Omidiyeh, Iran

Regular physical activity has an essential impact on community health protection and health promotion, but some studies have revealed a decline in physical activity among adolescents, especially in girls, and its cause is still unknown. This study aimed to assess the physical activity behaviors of students in the city of Omidiyeh, Iran, and its predictive factors based on the Pender’s health promotion model (HPM).
This cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted on 430 female high school students in Omidiyeh selected through random cluster sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on Pender’s models, and data analysis was performed using correlation tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis tests.
Findings: Data showed that during the previous week, 25% of subjects had not performed any physical activity and only 4.4% had performed physical activity for 30 minutes between 6-7 days a week. Scores of most structures of the HPM model were in the attainable mean score range; however, plan of action and self-efficacy scores in half of the subjects were below the average attainable score. There were significant relationships among HPM structures and physical activity behavior (P The level of physical activity among adolescent girls is not suitable. This can be suggestive of the risk of increased chronic diseases in the future of this community. Most of the structures of Pender’s HPM were related with physical activity level. Thus, it can be the basis for designing effective interventions to increase this behavior in adolescents.