Explaining the Role of Health Belief Model Constructs On Physical Puberty Health Among Teen Girls: Structural Equation Modeling

Background: The puberty as a stage of life is an important developmental process. Teen girls have numerous health care needs and their specific aspects should be considered. Objectives: In this study we applied explanatory model to determine the role of health belief model constructs on physical puberty health among teen girls. Materials and Methods: This correlational cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011, and attempted to determine the total, indirect and direct effects of health belief model construct on physical puberty health behaviors. The population studied included 61 girls aged from 12 to 19 years from welfare boarding centers in Iran (Tehran), and selected by convenience sampling method. Data on demographic characteristics, health belief model constructs and physical puberty health behaviors were collected using an interview-based questionnaire, and analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results: The perceived variables such as susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers and cues to action showed their direct effects on physical puberty health behaviors. Also perceived benefits affected physical puberty health behaviors indirectly through perceived susceptibility. The total effect of perceived benefits on physical puberty health behaviors was 0.292. There are positive significant relationships between perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and physical puberty health behaviors as well as path coefficient. SE for each of them were, (0.27 (0.11)), (0.32 (0.09)) and (0.2 (0.06)), respectively. Conclusions: Since benefits of physical puberty health behavior were the most important predictor of this puberty health behavior, it is concluded that increasing the benefits along with improving each of the perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers and cues to action can lead to increasing physical puberty health behavior and health promotion.