Health behaviour change following persuasive communication

This study was undertaken to assess the impact of a persuasively presented academic course in Health Psychology on students' health behaviour. Ninety-eight students attending a third-year optional course in Health Psychology at the University of Cape Town volunteered to participate in the study. The students completed a self-report Lifestyle Evaluation Questionnaire (LEQ) at the beginning of the six-week course, at the completion of the course and at an eight-month follow-up. A Lifestyle Beliefs Questionnaire (LBQ) based on the Health Belief Model was also filled out at the follow-up date. The results showed a statistically significant change in the exercise health behaviour, improving as the study progressed. LEQ factors of food and care improved significantly from the beginning to the completion of the course, with the care factor also maintaining a significant change from beginning to follow-up. Analysis of the LBQ indicated that the benefits component predicted exercise and drug use, the barriers component predicted exercise behaviour, and the susceptibility component predicted drug use. It was concluded that persuasive communication had a motivating effect on young, healthy adults to practise positive health behaviours.