Self-efficacy: Relationship with health habits and quality of life in university students from northeast Mexico

Abstract

Introduction: Self-efficacy is a cognitive resource related to the profile of self-care and the evaluation of student satisfaction with life. Objectives: To analyze the differences between General Perceived Selfefficacy (GPS-E) and the practice or not of healthy habits, and the relationship between GPS-E and Quality of Life (QoL) in university students of northeastern Mexico. Methodology: The design was quantitative, correlational, comparative, cross-sectional, with a sample of 300 university students from northeastern Mexico. Health Habits Questionnaire, Perceived General Self-Efficacy Scale and General Satisfaction with Life and Wellbeing subscale were applied. Results: It was found that university students who practiced physical activity and exercise and who do not consume tobacco presented higher levels of AGP, while differences in AGP levels were not statistically significant, in the care of food or in the consumption of alcohol. In addition, the higher the AGP the better CV (p <.05). Conclusions: AGP is a determining factor in the practice of physical activity and in the prevention of tobacco consumption, while food and alcohol consumption are socially constructed behaviors.