Objective@#To explore the
prevalence of
health risk behaviors and the
association between
locus of control and
health risk behaviors among college
students, and to provide reference for the formulation of
health risk behavior intervention for college
students.@*
Methods@#A multi stage cluster random sampling
method was used to select 2 provinces from the east, central and west regions of
China, respectively. Two
universities were then randomly selected from each selected province. A total of 3 951 college
students from 12
universities completed the
electronic and anonymous
questionnaires, which included demographic characteristics, Multidimensional
Health Locus of Control Questionnaire (MHLC) and
Health Risk Behaviors Questionnaire.
Chi square test and binary
Logistic regression were applied to analyze data.@*Results@#Totally 2 287(57.88%)
students reported having three or more kinds of
health risk behaviors. The
prevalence of excessive
screen time, insufficient
physical exercise, poor
eating behaviors,
drinking and
smoking were 97.34%(3 846), 74.72%(2 952), 72.21%(2 853), 13.62%(538) and 5.57%(220). Internal
locus of control was associated with lower
risk of three or more kinds of
health risk behavior ( OR =0.98) and inadequate
physical activity ( OR =0.93) and associated with higher
risk of
smoking ( OR =1.07). The powerful others was associated with lower
risk of three or more kinds of
health risk behavior ( OR =0.98),
drinking ( OR =0.95) and unhealthy
eating behavior ( OR =0.97). And the chance was associated with higher
risk of three or more kinds of
health risk behavior ( OR = 1.04 ),
drinking ( OR =1.04) and inadequate
physical activity ( OR =1.03)( P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#College
students have serious
health risk behavior problems, the
locus of control is associated with
health risk behaviors among college
students. Which might be helpful to prevent the occurrence of
health risk behaviors, and improve
overall health of college
students.