Factors Related to the Health Knowledge and Health Behavior of Disadvantaged Black Youth

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between various factors and the health knowledge and health behavior of disadvantaged black youth. Disadvantaged black male and female youths, age 12 to 17, were surveyed regarding their health knowledge, health locus of control, and health practices. Results of the data analyses using an ANOVA revealed significant differences for scores on the health knowledge test due to sex, age, and health locus of control. Females had higher test means than males, older students had higher knowledge scores than did younger students, and internally-oriented students had higher knowledge scores than did externally-oriented students. No significant interaction was found. An ANOVA on behavior scores revealed a sex by locus of control interaction. Male externals had much lower behavior scores than female externals. A significant interaction also was found between age and health locus of control. Older externals had significantly higher behavior scores than younger externals. Implications for health educators and nurse educators are discussed.