Relationship among Pro-environmental Attitude, Behavior to Decrease Exposure, Knowledge of Endocrine Disruptors, and Obesity-related Profiles in Nursing Students

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the pro-environmental attitude (actual commitment domain, verbal commitment domain, affect domain), behavior to decreased exposure and knowledge of endocrine disruptors by obesity-related profiles (BMI, body fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass percentage, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 nursing students. Data were collected from November to December, 2015 using self-report questionnaires and physical measurements. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson correlation and coefficients with SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: The study results showed that actual commitment domain of pro-environmental attitude and behavior to decreased exposure level on endocrine disruptors were significantly related to visceral fat percentage. Actual commitment domain of a pro-environmental attitude was significantly related to body fat percentage. Pro-environmental attitude was significantly related to the behavior to decreased exposure level on endocrine disruptors and knowledge thereof. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that visceral fat and body fat percentages were significantly related to the actual commitment domain of a pro-environmental attitude. Therefore, a replication study is recommended to understand the connection between endocrine disruptors and obesity. In addition, developing an education program about endocrine disruptors for nursing students is recommended. In particular, a pro-environmental attitude, especially on actual commitment domain, could be involved as an education program.